Hogs and Kisses is a micro-sanctuary that opened its barn doors in Charlottesville in 2021. This year, Madison House is partnering with the farm to give UVA students an opportunity to volunteer with the seven pigs, five rabbits, and two turkeys! Click to learn more about Hogs & Kisses and the volunteer experience.
Madison House’s Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CASH) program works to train and coordinate student-volunteers to provide free tax preparation for low- and moderate-income community members…This year marks 15 years since the launch of the C’ville Tax Aid Coalition — a partnership including Madison House and the University of Virginia Community Credit Union that is coordinated by the United Way of Greater Charlottesville. Since its inception in 2007, the Coalition has generated over $35 million in direct economic impact for the Charlottesville area community.
As a first year at the University of Virginia (UVA), Chelsea Li (CLAS ‘20) wanted to soak up all the opportunities that the University had to offer. She found herself exploring new clubs and classes and was especially eager to be in the community. “In high school,” she said, “I felt as if I was missing a lot of the learning that happens outside the classroom.” This desire to stretch her curiosity across disciplines and interests, along with an intrinsic desire to uplift those around her, was what first brought Chelsea to Madison House.
The House has long been a place where students can come to find or rediscover themselves and their place within the community. This held true for Paige, who shared that “it gives me peace of mind knowing that I am a good swimmer but that's not what defines me. There's so much more to life, like helping others. My time at Madison House has allowed me to see that.”
Kruse, from Ridgeland, Mississippi, is a fourth-year student in the McIntire School of Commerce. She initially got involved in the program because of her prior experience in advocacy work.
“Ultimately, the goal of the program is for students to learn about environmental science through a native lens,” Kruse said. “Maelee Hearington, another UVA student, and I wrote the curriculum to focus on science, social activism and social justice. We also provide additional resources like workbooks, markers, easels and notebooks.”
The Crozet Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) stands as a vital part of Albemarle County’s emergency services network. Covering over 100 square miles, CVFD responds to a wide range of emergencies, from fire alarms and gas leaks to car accidents and structure fires. Located in Crozet, Virginia, the department operates with a unique structure, balancing professional day crews and community-driven volunteer night crews. Read more about the Madison House volunteer experience.
“Although it's a non-traditional form of treatment, I have always believed that music is extremely healing,” says Harmonies for Healing Program Director Sophia Yoder. “Being part of [this program] allows me to contribute to someone's healing process and connect with people of all ages.” Read more about the Harmonies for Healing program through Madison House.
GEMS, or Girls Excited about Math and Science, aptly captures the essence of this Education and Youth program at Madison House. Volunteers and Program Directors alike comment on the ability of the program to foster true interest and engagement in elementary-aged girls as they listen and interact in volunteer-curated lesson plans. Read on to learn more about this vibrant program and the Madison House volunteers who lead lessons.
While most UVA students leave Grounds after final exams in the spring, many Madison House volunteers continue to serve the Charlottesville community. In fact, a lucky 120 undergraduate students are able to volunteer for Health and Medical Programs during the summer months through Madison House. There are opportunities for students with a variety of backgrounds and interests. Read on to learn more…
Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy (CART) provides therapeutic horseback riding lessons for children and adults with disabilities, and volunteers play a key role in offering these sessions. Head Program Director Maggie Monroe got involved with the nonprofit organization her second year at UVA, originally because she was taking a course—Poverty and the Young Child—which had a community service element. “I immediately felt drawn to CART as I have two younger cousins on the spectrum, one with Autism Spectrum Disorder and one with Down Syndrome,” Maggie shares. “I have always loved working with and giving back to this population, and I found CART's mission statement to be exactly what I was looking for.” Read more about CART and the Madison House volunteer experience.
SPLASH (Swimming Protects Lives and Sparks Hope) and the Virginia Discovery Museum (VDM) volunteer programs at Madison House both offer unique windows for UVA students to engage with children in the Charlottesville community. Read more about these Education & Youth volunteer opportunities through Madison House.
Hogs and Kisses is a micro-sanctuary that opened its barn doors in Charlottesville in 2021. This year, Madison House is partnering with the farm to give UVA students an opportunity to volunteer with the seven pigs, five rabbits, and two turkeys! Click to learn more about Hogs & Kisses and the volunteer experience.
Only through Madison House do a select number of passionate undergraduate UVA students get to volunteer with the Legal Aid Justice Center, a community-based mutual aid and legal firm. In a typical semester, 15 Madison House volunteers dedicate at least 5 hours per week working virtually or at the center. Volunteers spend most of their time interacting with clients, helping clients and attorneys communicate, and completing client intakes.
With your support, Madison House provided service and leadership opportunities for over 1,600 students while supporting 63 local community partners last year. From Walking Bus and Tutor Bus programs to expanded tax preparation assistance across the region, Madison House student volunteers connected deeply with our community. With Executive Director Mary Denlinger at the helm, we eagerly anticipate our next phase of growth. We are excited to share the highlights of 2023 - 2024 with you!
With Halloween in the rear view mirror, the Holiday Sharing program at Madison House is in full swing. Michelle Tran, Head Program Director for Holiday Sharing, sat down with NBC29 on Monday, November 4, during the 4pm newscast to talk about the program and what it has meant to her during her time at UVA.
Several programs at Madison House strive to service the large Hispanic community in Charlottesville, a community of around 13,000 residents. Volunteers with programs through Latinx and Migrant Aid (LAMA), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Creating Assets, Savings & Hope (CASH), UVA Health, and the Charlottesville Free Clinic specifically provide Spanish language services. Programs like Multilingual Learning and Thomas Jefferson Adult Career Education provide English language instruction for speakers of Spanish, as well as many other languages.
Thanks to all who joined us at the Fall Service Fair on Monday, August 26. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities across the Animals & Environment, Education & Youth, Health & Medical, and Human Services tracks. If you missed the information sessions, please view the program slides below. When you are ready to apply, follow the “next steps” listed for the program you want to join.
In an era where college students are increasingly focused on academic achievement and career prospects, volunteering with a non-profit organization like Madison House that places students in community service roles offers a unique and invaluable opportunity. This experience goes far beyond simply fulfilling a requirement or padding a resume; it is a transformative journey that builds essential skills, fosters leadership, creates lasting relationships, and encourages ethical engagement with the community. Read on to learn the top 15 benefits of volunteering that students cite most frequently.
As we approach the end of our fiscal year, we at Madison House are reflecting on the incredible impact our volunteers have made. This year, we are particularly proud of our recent graduates and the alumni who joined us for a heartwarming Reunions weekend. Their dedication to public service and community engagement continues to inspire us all.
The CASH tax preparation assistance program recently wrapped up another successful year. Final numbers are not yet in, but preliminary figures indicate that this year’s CASH program volunteers prepared more than 1,500 returns between February and April 2024. However, the volunteers say there is much more to CASH than the numbers. What they enjoy most is the opportunity to connect with the Charlottesville community. Read more about CASH and the volunteer experience.
The spring 2024 semester introduced a new Community Partner to Madison House: the Emergency Food Network (EFN). Phoebe Zamoff, currently a second-year UVA student, devoted the fall semester to fostering a relationship with the EFN in order to give UVA students an additional opportunity to fight food insecurity in Charlottesville. “I wanted to create a new program at Madison House that was dedicated to fighting food insecurity in Charlottesville,” Phoebe explains. Read more about this new Madison House partnership.
As Head Program Director of the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, Emma has dedicated many hours to getting to know the woman she calls her “adopted grandma”. After discovering that they both had lived in Emma’s hometown in West Virginia, they quickly developed a close relationship. “My favorite part of my week is getting to spend time with her,” says Emma. Read more about Emma’s experience in the Adopt-a-Grandparent program at Madison House.
Flowers are not the only thing springing up as the weather turns warmer! Some seasonal Madison House programs, like Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) Community Gardens Program are picking up again after UVA’s spring break ended in mid-March. The program operates from August to mid-November and is in its sixteenth year of helping local food banks like The Haven, Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, the PVCC Food Pantry, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, the Thomas Jefferson Area Food Bank, and The Salvation Army. Read more about this growing program!
For over 40 years, UVA students have been volunteering with Therapeutic Adventures and IndependencePlus Adaptive Sports. Mark Andrews founded the program when he was a graduate student at UVA from 1980-1983. In the past four decades, a family-like community has developed among the athletes and volunteers as they inspire and encourage one another. “We exist to provide leadership, programs, and specialty therapeutic services to educate, to challenge, and to inspire persons of all ages and abilities. Individuals who have experienced traumatic or catastrophic life events learn positive ways to adapt and overcome those challenges. Our unique approach of teaching, coaching, guiding, and mentoring makes it possible for persons with disabilities and complex medical needs to restore, to rebuild, to re-create themselves,” comments Mark.
