Blog

College is tough. Heck, life is tough. It takes a lot to make sure basic needs like food, sleep, and shelter are met, especially in college. The UVA Community Food Pantry exists to supplement students' basic food needs. Located in Newcomb Hall in room 144 (in the SAC), the pantry is stocked with fresh produce, canned goods, pasta, deli meats, snacks, and hygiene products. All students and staff with an active UVA ID are encouraged to stop by and pick up groceries as needed.

UVA’s Office for Sustainability is dedicated to engaging our communities, stewarding our built and natural resources, and discovering ways to move toward sustainability and environmental justice at the University and beyond for generations to come. Read more about ways you can volunteer and get involved in waste minimization, civic engagement, and food access.

This October marks the one-year anniversary of the new Student Health and Wellness (SHW) building. At this point, most students are aware that Medical Services, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and the Student Disability Access Center (SDAC) are located here, however, did you know that there are many other amenities implemented within this space that can promote your health and wellbeing?

Volunteers with International Students, Staff, and Scholars (VISAS) is a program that was started by UVA’s Center for American English Language and Culture (CAELC) over 20 years ago. VISAS works to serve international members of the UVA community (and their family members) by providing a variety of settings for English language practice.

The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA has the mission of advancing the compassionate treatment of animals by providing sheltering, medical care, and behavioral services for dogs and cats, promoting permanent, caring homes, and furthering education and outreach in our community. Our vision is healthy animals in caring homes, and we need dedicated volunteers to help us provide the best environment for all of our animals during their stay with us.

BGiA (Building Goodness in April) is a student-run partnership between Darden School of Business and the Building Goodness Foundation, a local Charlottesville nonprofit that renovates homes and community spaces in Albemarle County and internationally (with projects in Haiti and Nicaragua). In the past year, BGiA raised $90,000 towards the renovation of seven homes for underprivileged families in Charlottesville.

Dark Skies, Bright Kids (DSBK) is led primarily by astronomy graduate students at UVA. Their goal is to expose children to the fun side of science and astronomy by launching rockets, providing planetarium tours (in a portable planetarium!), making comets, and many other hands-on activities.

The Women’s Center is a place for UVA students to access a wide variety of resources and opportunities – to find what they need to thrive and to give back. Come see us on the Corner to access all of these features of the Women’s Center during our regular hours: quiet and comfortable spaces for studying or meetings, meditation space, satellite location of the on-Grounds food pantry system, books that students can borrow or take, and more.

Challah for Hunger’s primary mission is to increase awareness and raise funds to fight food insecurity both locally and nationally. CfH’s national organization was founded in 2004 and was established at UVA in 2011. In the 11 years since, CfH at UVA has raised over $100,000 and donated 100% of its proceeds to both the Blue Ridge Food Bank, Mazon, and Swipe Out Hunger.

Interested in making an impact on the world? Leave your lasting influence on non-profits and public service organizations in healthcare, education, sustainability, the arts, and more. Since 2005, the Parents Fund has supported 22 students a year in their pursuit of meaningful lives. Parents Fund and Sustainability Internship Grants (PFIG) are awarded in the spring of each academic year and are intended to provide funds that support students who have secured unpaid public service internships.