Volunteer Illini Projects helps pave paths to service, reminding students that they can leave positive impacts on communities in need.
Founded in 1963 by University alum and Dean of Men Gaylord Hatch, VIP began as an outlet for activists to support the issues they were passionate about. The RSO continues to support its same initial projects alongside the new projects it has created throughout the years.
VIP consists of 13 issue-focused projects, including: Disabilities and Accessibility, Hunger and Homelessness, Arts Outreach and more. Each project hosts two volunteer events every month, like blood drives and hosting after-school programs for young kids.
VIP is open to everyone in the Champaign-Urbana community. It promotes its events through its newsletter and website. Additionally, there are no dues, making it an accessible way to support a cause.
Stephanie Espino, senior in Engineering and VIP President, understands the importance of having diverse projects so members can find their place to contribute to a cause they feel connected to.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
“The goal is to make a positive change in the community,” Espino said. “There’s a lot of different definitions for community, and everyone has a different community, so we try to hit all aspects of that.”
VIP forms a link between a hobby or passion and service. Simona Mickeviciute, junior in Media and project director for Arts Outreach, is grateful she’s able to see the impact the arts can have on the outside community.
“I’m really passionate about the arts,” Mickeviciute said. “It’s just really fun to see what I can do. I can use my art to help the community.”
Arts Outreach focuses its volunteer events on the arts. This may mean crocheting scarves for a homeless shelter or painting a set for a local theater.
Mickeviciute reflects on how she values volunteering after firsthand experiencing how volunteers helped her and her family.
“It was a wholesome moment to see people come out to help other people,” Mickeviciute said. “I just wanted to do the same and … try to help someone else who was in need, as well.”
VIP provides a space to contribute to many communities that are often seen yet dismissed. The Hunger and Homelessness project works to improve the lives of the homeless around the C-U area.
Grace Grabski, sophomore in Media and project director for Hunger and Homelessness, explains that most University students don’t realize the extent of the homeless population off campus. She hopes the project can spread awareness for the struggling community.
This past Halloween, the Hunger and Homelessness project put together food bags to donate to Strides Shelter, a homeless shelter in Champaign. Grabski remembers feeling fulfilled after seeing firsthand the community her project was helping.
“Seeing the people outside of Strides Shelter … was really impactful for me, knowing that my donation will help them and that they will get what they’ve been waiting for,” Grabski said.
VIP is always open to evolving to create new projects for communities that may need more awareness. Thomas Locke, senior in Engineering, proposed the idea for Disabilities and Accessibility to address accessibility on campus and in the C-U community.
After realizing the positive impact this new project would provide, VIP began working with Disability Resources and Educational Services and disability programs in schools throughout the C-U area to provide support. Now, like every other project, Disabilities and Accessibility holds two volunteer events every month to provide that aid.
Lia O’Malley, sophomore in LAS, is grateful for the variety of events VIP offers. After volunteering throughout her life, she was searching for an RSO that provided opportunities to continue helping her community. She found her place in VIP.
The events VIP provides help O’Malley reflect on how her volunteering benefits the groups she works with.
“I feel like it’s a really great way to give back to the community,” O’Malley said. “It’s an outlet to just kind of getting your mind away and seeing the bigger picture.”
