With apologies to Madison House’s other stellar programs: Rookie Soccer coaches the cutest children around. I didn’t know they made cleats that small.
How did you become a volunteer with Animals & Environment?
I went to a MH fair, and found out about Pet Pals and Gallastar. They sounded interesting, so I applied. I ended up joining Pet Pals my first year, and Gallastar my third year.
Why did you choose your program? What do you like about it?
I chose Pet Pals and Gallastar because I love animals, and with both of these programs, I get a chance to work with a variety of them.
The funniest, or actually most embarrassing experience was probably my first year when I first started volunteering and I didn’t have much experience yet. I got humped by a pit bull and didn’t know what to do. I had to get someone to help me! Now I know what to do in those situations…My best Gallastar experience has been feeding the pigs fruits and vegetables. It’s cute to see how excited they get.
Walking dogs is actually a really good stress reliever, and it’s so much fun working with the pigs on the farm. It’s interesting to see how they all have different personalities.
Maggie Chang is a 3rd Year Biology Major. She has volunteered with Madison House since first year, and owns a pet rabbit named Nino.
How did you become a volunteer with your Madison House program?
I’m in Adopt-A-Grandparent. :) The first week of school, I joined SERVE and went to the Martha Jefferson House. I really enjoyed it, so I asked my site leader how I could continue doing something similar. They directed me to Adopt-A-Grandparent. It’s been amazing!
Why did you choose your program? What do you like about it?
I’ve always loved working with the elderly because you can learn so much from them. With Adopt-A-Grandparent, I have more than a brief interaction with the elderly. I get to work on a deep relationship with my grandmother. To me, she’s my family in Virginia (I’m out-of-state). I love hearing her stories and she loves sharing them!
Tell us your best, funniest, or most educational experience as a Madison House volunteer.
The best experience was when my mom came to visit me in October. I really wanted her to meet my grandmother. While talking, they found out that they were both born in New York, that they are both terribly impatient and that they both love the Golden Girls. Now whenever I talk to my mom about my grandmother, she calls her “my adopted-mother”.
What is one thing you’d like readers to know about your program?
The Adopt-A-Grandparent program is very special because you visit the same person every week. You can witness the relationship bloom right before your eyes. If you’re interested in having a strong and special bond with a knowledgeable and experienced person, definitely volunteer with Adopt-A-Grandparent!
Heather Mui is a 1st Year Classics major. She has volunteered with Madison House since Fall 2011, and is afraid of play dough.