“Over 50 years, Madison House’s model of student-led, peer-recruited service has created an unmatched culture of service at the University of Virginia,” says Tim Freilich, executive director of Madison House, an independent nonprofit that coordinates volunteer opportunities in the Charlottesville area for UVA students. He’s got the numbers to back it up: In a typical year, Madison House’s 2,500 students lend a hand to 125 community partners, including schools, hospitals, and nonprofits.
When the pandemic disrupted much of its usual operations, the organization still managed to make a difference, pivoting quickly to virtual volunteering. For example, 300 bilingual Madison House volunteers (in partnership with the Virginia Equity Center) provided online science tutoring for English-language learners in Albemarle County Schools. This year, volunteers will be back to their regular programming, including helping out in hospitals, assisting in senior living facilities, and even working with United Way to guide community members as they fill out their taxes.
Freilich emphasizes that the benefits of service go both ways. “Students realize how much they can learn from the wisdom and knowledge of the community,” he says. Madison House knows the students are getting as much benefit from volunteering as anyone. It’s a model of how the relationship between UVA and Charlottesville can work: Collaboration makes everyone stronger.