Students at UW–Madison often find deep connections at their Badger Volunteer sites, and many are just as impacted by the relationships they build as the communities they serve.
Caitlin Proffitt, a junior studying psychology and social welfare, has been involved with her Badger Volunteers site—Central Wisconsin Center—since her freshman year. The center falls under the category of companionship and isolation prevention, one of five key focus areas within the Badger Volunteers program.
Many members of the Central Wisconsin Center use wheelchairs and are non-verbal. Over the past two years, Proffitt has gotten to know the program participants and developed strong friendships.
“That’s just what I love about volunteering—gaining a relationship,” Proffitt says.
With a background in volunteering alongside her family to coordinate weekly events for children with special needs, Proffitt explains that this experience has only reinforced her interest in pursuing a future career in social work.
With a wide variety of opportunities, Badger Volunteers has a site for everyone that allows students to get involved in fields they are passionate about—both personally and professionally.
When recalling her favorite memory at the Central Wisconsin Center, Proffitt describes a dance held last semester that brought together volunteers, employees, and residents for a night of music and movement.
“It just shows you—it’s something so simple. It’s just a dance,” she says. “But it means so much more for the residents than anyone else could probably feel.”
The Badger Volunteers program provides experiences that are meaningful, fun, and centered on building community for both volunteers and participants.
“I’ve always done volunteering; I think it just reinforced the importance of it,” Proffitt says.