U.VA. STUDENT VOLUNTEERS KEEP GIVING AND GIVING AND GIVING... Two new volunteer programs at the University of Virginia provide students with additional ways to show the Charlottesville community they care. PACT (Provide Action and Care for those in Transition) and Community Attention, Teens G.I.V.E. (Getting Involved in Volunteer Experiences) are two programs that have been added to the volunteer opportunities available to students through Madison House, which coordinates community service efforts of U.Va. students during spring semester more than 50 students participated in these two programs, and expectations are that the number will grow. PACT is an umbrella group for programs that deal with issues related to hunger and homelessness. PACT currently has four volunteer programs, and two more will start in the fall: ¥ 'Hoos Against Hunger - This food-salvage program was created last fall by second year student Andrew Dillon. Students collect unused buffet items from a local restaurant and deliver them to the Salvation Army. The student directors for the fall are: Irene Greenberger (804-243 1237) and Virginia Lacy (804-977-8807). ¥ Salvation Army Tutoring - An academic-oriented program, tutors kids in the Salvation Army's emergency shelter and transitional housing programs. Diana Diesen (804 243-1865) is the student director for the fall. ¥ Hope House - A family-friends program similar to Big Siblings where U.Va. students are matched with families in transitional housing. U.Va. students provide fun activities, sports outings and child care for adults who need time to search for jobs, complete errands or enjoy time off. Student director for the fall is Wendy Robison (804-243-1207). ¥ Drop-In Center - An unstructured day shelter where U.Va. student volunteers cook meals and provide other support to those who drop-in. Jacqui White (804-243-1327) will student-direct the program in the fall. ¥ Gleaning - A program that gathers left-over farm produce from the fields and orchards after harvest for distribution at the Salvation Army. This program, formerly part of 'Hoos Against Hunger, will be directed by Andrew Dillon (804-923-0083). ¥ Uncle Ben's Party - This program, which has existed periodically on-Grounds, will join Madison House for the first time this fall. Every Wednesday, students will meet and dine on rice and beans donated by the U.Va.'s dining services and listen to speakers discuss issues of advocacy for the homeless and the hungry. Community Attention, Teens G.I.V.E., a community service learning program for at-risk children and their families, is a new venture at Madison House this year. Starting with just a few students in the fall, the program now has grown to 12 volunteers. U.Va. students and other volunteers work side-by-side with at-risk children participating in their own community service. "The theme of the Community Attention, Teens G.I.V.E. program is to help children learn that they can make a positive difference in our community while making a positive change in themselves," said Heather Kellums, the program's community staff director. "In performing community service together with a caring role model, at-risk kids learn through education, service and reflection. Volunteering in nursing homes, soup kitchens or maybe just getting rid of graffiti around town along side their mentor, they acquire the skills of being a positive community member and gain self-esteem, " Kellums said. ### April 28, 1997 For more information, contact Heather Kellums at (804) 970-3334 or Cindy Frederick, executive director, Madison House, at (804) 977-7051. Andrew Dillon and Wendy Robison, PACT student co-administrators, can be reached at (804) 923-0083 and (803) 243-1207, respectively. Television reporters should call our TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.