Launched as part of a new partnership between Batten and Madison House, an independent volunteer center for students at the University of Virginia, the drive complements Holiday Sharing, a program that numbers among Madison House’s oldest and has long provided Charlottesville families with food and personalized gifts for the holidays. Due to the pandemic, a community partner that had been assisting with food for the families was unable to do so this year, so the Batten community stepped in to fully fund and shop for food for all 120 families participating in the Holiday Sharing program.

Holiday Sharing is one of 24 programs Madison House hosts, which range in focus from tutoring in schools to community gardens to tax preparation. Batten has long supported the center and Holiday Sharing in particular — but never before in a formal capacity.

Read the rest of this Batten Leadership story here.