Walking around campus, it is easy to spot flyers advertising opportunities for students to volunteer their time at local Bloomington nonprofits. It had always seemed to me that my high school and undergraduate years saw a sharp increase in volunteerism, but while processing the records of the Volunteer Students Bureau I learned that student volunteerism is nothing new here at the Bloomington campus. The Volunteer Students Bureau (VSB) was established in 1969 as a way for IU students to connect to the community and learn about volunteer opportunities. The organization’s first administrative coordinator, Rebecca Sandridge, used the term “communiversity” to describe the link between Bloomington and Indiana University.
The VSB has been involved in the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, Cans for a Cause, roadside cleanup, Children’s Holiday Wish Program, Meals on Wheels, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, and Hilltop Garden among many others. In 1999, the VSB’s efforts were recognized when the organization was awarded the JCPenny Golden Rule Award. The collection is largely made up of administrative files, although there is an assortment of newspaper clippings and yearly files.
Interested in finding out more? Contact the Archives!
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