Most of the friends which I have made at the University volunteer in some way in the Charlottesville community, be it via tutoring or through the hospital. Unfortunately, therein lies the problem: When people think of avenues of giving back to the community, they usually turn to traditional ways of volunteering, like going to the hospital or tutoring. There are many more ways of contribution which can potentially have just as much of an impact on the community and carry just as much importance. But people seem to remain unaware of these alternative service programs, or simply ignore them because they perceive them as unimportant.
I am not criticizing those who volunteer in either of the traditional ways I mentioned above; volunteering is a good deed regardless of where or how one does it. What I am saying is that people should not limit themselves to simply those two options. In fact, Madison House provides a wide array of programs in which students can participate, such as the Hoos Assisting with Life Obstacles (HALO) program. Under this program, students can volunteer at places such as The Haven, a homeless shelter located downtown, which offers services including laundry and shower facilities.
Actually, I myself volunteer there. When I first began, I was a little unsure of what I was doing; one of the main places I had volunteered in the past was the hospital. Yet the longer I have volunteered at The Haven, the more I have enjoyed the experience, and the more I have learned about The Haven's community and residents. Program Director for The Haven, Max Grant, offers similar sentiments. "I began volunteering at The Haven because it was an opportunity to step out of the U.Va. bubble and form connections with people with a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds," he stated in an email. "I loved my volunteer experience, and became the program director in my second year in order to expand my relationship with Madison House and The Haven." Unfortunately, few people seem to know this program exists. When I tell people that I volunteer there, they simply give me a blank stare because they have no idea what The Haven is. I don't mind explaining, but it is unfortunate the program remains unknown.
Through Madison House, there are other programs such as the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program, where volunteers work together to fix houses and ensure people in the community are living comfortably. Programs like these provide an opportunity to better understand not only the Charlottesville community, but people in general. It is a chance to meet people who have interesting stories to tell; stories from which we young college students could learn.
Another program, Bridging the Gap, provides college students the chance to interact with refugee children in the community. Volunteers spend time with these children by helping them with homework, playing games and other activities. It is a way to help those children better acclimate to life in the United States.
All the programs I have mentioned thus far are Madison House programs. When I say to volunteer in different places, I am not saying that we should try to develop new programs but rather we should explore what kind of programs are available instead of simply deciding that the hospital is the best place to volunteer. Madison House has many unique programs like Bridging the Gap and The Haven, which are just as necessary as work in the hospital.
The problem is that people often do not seek out programs like these because it is easier to volunteer at the traditional options. Nevertheless, taking the initiative to try a different volunteering experience is definitely worthwhile, even if it takes a little more time. I took the risk and volunteered at The Haven, and now, I love it. Try a different program; it might end up being an experience you treasure.
Fariha Kabir's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at f.kabir@cavalierdaily.com.
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