Dorms to team with nonprofits to fight poverty

Residence halls and local nonprofits are teaming up this fall for students to get more involved in the Bloomington community.

IU will launch Adopt-a-Nonprofit, a program in which each of the 11 residence halls will sponsor one nonprofit organization.

Every nonprofit – from national organizations to local groups – is involved in combatting poverty, which is the theme of this year’s Adopt-a-Nonprofit, said junior Brittney Paulk, creator of the program.

The residence halls will have a lot of control of their own programs, Paulk said, adding that the halls will still work with the nonprofits to ensure the success of their work.

Students will also get to choose their level of involvement with the charitable organization.

“Nonprofits need loyal and committed people,” Paulk said. “They need people who are loyal and committed and mostly need small amounts of volunteers but (ones) that will be with them throughout the year.”

The theme is especially important given the United States’ current economic climate, said Bob Weith, director for residential operations of Residential Programs and Services.
Adopt-a-Nonprofit will be introduced to students on Student Service Day, during Welcome Week and throughout the entire year, said Emily Arth, assistant director of the Office of First Year Experience Programs.

The Residence Assistant Advisory Council chose the nonprofits with which the residence halls will work. The Residence Halls Association then assigned a nonprofit to each hall.

The center government and residence hall staff will define the specific residence centers’ philanthropic initiatives, said senior Jessica Schul, RHA president.

Paulk developed the idea because she wanted to find a simple, realistic way to engage students in community service.

The program is “a concept that is so simple that will help so many people,” Paulk said. “People in the residence halls have a direct opportunity to start working in the community in Bloomington and start getting some community service in and leadership skills.”

Organizers said they hope the program results in a better town-gown connection.

“We are really progressive in our connections with the Bloomington community,” Paulk said. “One of the reasons I chose IU was because there was a big connection between the college and Bloomington, but it can always be strengthened, and that is what we are trying to do and what we are striving for.”

RPS supports the program and plans on implementing it into the resident assistant and graduate training, Paulk said.

Weith said the program will have a positive impact on all those involved.

“Giving makes all of us feel ... more connected,” Weith said. “We are giving to people we know – people we do not need to identify.”