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November 2008
Dedication Ceremony for the Westrum House
Volunteers of America Northern New England will celebrate the official dedication of the Westrum House on Thursday, November 13th at 11:00 a.m. The Westrum House is a 27-unit high quality affordable senior housing community. It is named in honor of retired Sagadahoc County Sheriff Mark Westrum for his dedication and service to area seniors. Speakers will include representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Volunteers of America Northern New England, and state and local dignitaries. We expect family and members of law enforcement from across the state to attend. More>
More Teens Find Refuge at Homeless Youth Resource Center
In the Salt Lake Valley, a growing number of teens are sleeping on the streets with no home, no job, and no where to go. But there is one place that can help them get back on their feet. The Homeless Youth Resource Center is operated by the Volunteers of America and is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, and the number of teens using the facility has more than doubled in the last few months. "Some days I feel helpless, not knowing what I'm going to do. When you're by yourself on the street, it's really hard," said homeless teen Regina Simmons. More>
Volunteers of America Launches "Legacy of Hope Society"
Volunteers of America cared about Shelly Maxwell when she didn't care about herself. Before Volunteers of America entered her life, Maxwell cried all of the time. Her self-esteem was suffering, too, as she lived with her sister, taking care of six children in a small rural town. "I felt like nobody cared about me, and I had lost all hope," Maxwell said. "I stayed in the house all the time, and I felt like a prisoner in my own home." More>
October 2008
Housing Project Gains Ground in Bangor, Maine
Demolition has begun on a rundown Harlow Street building, a site that soon will become home to a four-story, 55-unit apartment complex specifically marketed to the elderly. Brunswick-based Volunteers of America Northern New England is backing the $11 million project, which has been enthusiastically supported by city officials who say affordable senior housing is sorely needed. More>
Over 400 Volunteers Make a Difference
On Saturday, October 25th, (Make a Difference Day) over 400 volunteers arrived to rake lawns for low-income seniors in an effort coordinated by the Volunteers of America's Handyman Program. More>
The Kindest Cut
Everyone loves a little pampering, whether they’re getting a haircut or manicure, makeup application or massage. But for the women at two shelters run by Volunteers of America, the attention they will receive on Sunday, Dec. 7 is a rare and precious treat. More>
September 2008
Brunswick Based Volunteers of America Dedicates New Affordable Senior Housing Community in Loudon, NH
Volunteers of America Northern New England headquartered in Brunswick, Maine celebrated the official dedication of the Richard Brown House, a new affordable senior housing community in Loudon, New Hampshire. This is Volunteers of America’s first affordable housing outside of Maine. Speakers included representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Volunteers of America, state and local dignitaries, The City of Loudon, residents and family and friends of Richard Brown. More>
Coats for Kids
Colder weather is just around the corner and some local volunteers want to make sure every Mid-Michigan child stays warm. Volunteers of America and radio station WMMQ have partnered up for the annual Coats for Kids drive. More>
Good Sports
Local high school students gathered last week at Great American Ball Park with Reds players Javier Valentin and David Weathers to learn about the importance of volunteering and becoming involved in their communities. The meeting was organized by Volunteers of America and the Players Trust, a charitable foundation created by the Major League Baseball Players Association that supports the volunteer activities of individual players and initiates outreach programs such as Action Teams that teens can organize at their schools. More>
GTIL Supports "Adopt a Family" for the Holidays
The Great Lakes IT Report is "adopting" a charity for the holiday season, and we're hoping we can get companies in technology, the life sciences, advanced manufacturing and associated services to "adopt" a bunch of needy families.
Volunteers of America's "Adopt A Family" program matches families and seniors in need with individuals and corporate sponsors who adopt them for the holidays, providing new clothes, toys for children and an all-out Christmas dinner to those who otherwise would not be able to celebrate the holiday due to their hardships. More>
Innovative Care for Seniors Now Available at Horizons
Volunteers of America Colorado, a non-profit organization that provides human services to those in need nationwide, has opened an innovative health care program specifically for frail, elderly residents. More>
Memory Care Conference (Portland, OR)
The 2nd Annual “Hold Onto Your Memory: Aging & Memory in the African American Community” conference is Saturday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 pm at Portland Community College Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth. With sponsorship by Volunteers of America Oregon, The Layton Aging and Alzheimer’s disease Center at OHSU, and the Urban League of Portland, African American seniors and their family caregivers can learn about resources available to them and hear from speakers working in cutting-edge health programs that positively impact their communities. More>
New Charter Schools Opening for the 2008-9 School Year
The Minnesota Department of Education recently announced the approval of 11 new charter schools state-wide, eight of which will be opening in the Twin Cities or first-ring suburbs. This year’s crop follows a current trend in charter schools: aggressively pursuing poor and low-income families who are dissatisfied and disillusioned with public school systems, particularly in Minneapolis.
Sponsored by Volunteers of America of Minnesota, a non-profit social and community service organization, Global Academy in Columbia Heights hopes to provide elementary-aged students “an interdisciplinary approach and integrated learning units, with a heavy emphasis on character development,” according to Jay Testerman of Volunteers of America. The school will ultimately have 200 students, grades K-6, according to Mellissa Storbakken of Global Academy. More>
Outstanding Service to Homeless Veterans
The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. James B. Peake, has recognized Volunteers of America of Florida as the recipient of the 2008 Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Service to Homeless Veterans. Kathy Spearman received the award from Secretary Peake during a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
The National award had the following inscription:
It is with great pride that we recognize your devotion and outstanding contribution to our Nation’s homeless veterans.Your dedication and commitment to helping others exemplifies outstanding service to our community and our Nation. The Department of Veterans Affairs proudly recommends you for your selfless efforts.
Volunteers of America of Florida works closely with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and Florida communities to meet the complex needs of veterans experiencing homelessness. Volunteers of America of Florida proudly provides services to veterans in six Florida communities (Key West, Miami, Cocoa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Lake City), with program expansion planned for four additional communities in need (Tampa, Punta Gorda, Pensacola, and Tallahassee). Additionally, the agency operates the Florida Veterans’ Mobile Service Center, a 40-foot mobile, self-contained medical, dental, and service facility, and helps veterans identify and seek the resources needed to restore their physical and metal health.
Partnership to Ease Monroe Co's Daycare Crisis
Families struggling to find daycare for their children may get some much needed help - and it couldn't have come at a better time. Beginning Tuesday, the YMCA of Greater Rochester and Volunteers of America Western New York will partner to combat Monroe County's child care cuts. More>
Rockies Players' Wives Pitch in for Women's Shelter
Life has thrown many a curve ball at the 25 women who call the Irving Street Shelter home. Homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse are some of the issues they deal with on a daily basis. Open since May, the shelter is the newest in the Volunteers of America-Colorado network of safe havens and last Friday night the residents had some very special visitors: about a dozen women whose husbands either play, coach or manage the 2007 National League champion Colorado Rockies. More>
SF Teen Prescription Abuse
To break free from substance abuse, more than a 150 kids stay at an in-patient residence unit at the Volunteers of America Heisler Chemical Dependency Treatment Program in Sioux Falls, SD. As chemical dependency services director, Chris Sandvig says he has treated kids for about every kind of drug. He says that's because drugs are easy for kids to get. More>
Volunteers of America Greater Ohio and North Louisiana Awarded CARF Accreditation
The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities(CARF), has accredited Volunteers of America Greater Ohio’s Emergency and Permanent Supportive Housing Programs for families in Columbus, Ohio, for a three year period. CARF is an independent, non-profit accreditor of human service providers that conducts an impartial peer review using internationally developed and accepted standards. Accreditation validates that services, personnel and documentation have an established pattern of practice excellence and that more than 300 quality standards have been adhered to.
Volunteers of America of North Louisiana received accreditation from an international organization for its programs that help adults with disabilities live independently in the community. CARF International, an independent, nonprofit accrediting body, approved accreditation for the organization’s Assertive Community Treatment program, Case Management/Service Coordination, Community Housing, Community Integration, and Employment Services: Job Development, Job Site Supports, and Job Site Training
The programs are provided through Volunteers of America of North Louisiana’s Employment and Community Services Department in Shreveport, Volunteers of America of Northeast Louisiana and Volunteers of America of Central Louisiana.
Volunteers of America Opening a New Thrift Store
Volunteers of America of Florida's Manatee program is opening the Odds and Ends Thrift store. Odds and Ends will serve as an employment training center for adults with disabilities and will give them opportunities to learn employability skills. More>
Volunteers of America Opens New Canandaigua Store
Ontario County residents have a new place to shop for discounted merchandise. The Volunteers of America Western New York opened up a new store in Canandaigua this week at the old Snow Country store in Parkway Plaza. More>
August 2008
Backpacks Full of Hope: 3rd MAV (Fwd) Opens Iraqi and American Friendship Proejct Logistics Center
Over 1,000 Iraqi children may soon have school supplies thanks to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) with the launch of the Human Unity Begins project and the grand opening of a logistics center at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron here May 19.
The Iraqi and American Friendship Project Logistics Center will serve as the supply warehouse for HUB, a humanitarian mission which provides backpacks and school supplies to children in need.
The HUB program, started by the 3rd MAW (Fwd.) chaplains, draws inspiration from Operation Backpack, an annual back-to-school program organized by Volunteers of America to provide backpacks and school supplies to children in need, according to Navy Lt. Frank Riley, a chaplain for Marine Aircraft Group 16. More>
"Buses for Baseball" Comes to Coors
Before Tuesday's game, a group of underprivileged children watched from their front row seats in Coors Field as their favorite Rockies players took turns blasting baseballs into the outfield during batting practice.
As part of Major League Baseball Players Trust's "Buses for Baseball" program, 40 children from various programs supported by Denver-based, not-for-profit Volunteers of America received round-trip transportation to the game, met the players, and received free tickets, food, beverages and souvenirs. More>
Home Ownership Dreams Come True
Early in 2005, Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans had planned the construction of 11 homes in Gretna on Palfrey Street, between Van Trump and Porter. It was called the Gretna Square Development Project. More>
Local Program Ensures Children Have Beds to Sleep In
Dozens of children will sleep a little better in the coming nights. More than 150 beds, along with frames and box springs, are being donated to the Binghamton community. Volunteers of America Greater New York is teaming up with Beds 4 Kids for this monthly program. More>
Operation Backpack Brings School Supplies to Thousands (Greater NY)
Dozens of volunteers are gathering in Gramercy today to stuff backpacks with pens, notebooks and other necessary items depending on grade level as part of Operation Backpack. Operation Backpack is a city-wide effort to give backpacks and supplies to thousands of kids in city shelters. More>
A Tip With the Check
More than 10,000 South Dakotans got a little something extra with their paycheck: a message not to drink and drive over the Labor Day weekend.
The reminder was a joint effort of the state Office of Highway Safety, the South Dakota Safety Council, Volunteers of America, and a dozen companies. More>
Volunteers of America Opens Innovative Health Care Program for Area Seniors
Volunteers of America Colorado, a non-profit association that provides human services to those in need nationwide, has opened an innovative health care program specifically for frail, elderly residents. More>
July 2008
Help for Louisville's Homeless Grows Scarce as Funds Dwindle
Single mother and Army veteran Phonecia Carney never expected to need a homeless shelter. But after some setbacks last year -- including losing a roommate who shared expenses -- Carney and her young son found themselves in an apartment with no utilities on the brink of eviction. So she started calling homeless shelters -- in vain.
"They didn't have any openings," said Carney, who said she moved from friend to relative until she eventually found a vacancy at Volunteers of America. More>
Mobile Food Pantry Draws 450
Volunteers of America Western New York organized Monday's distribution, working with the Elmira food bank. The VOA plans to hold monthly distributions at different locations in the Binghamton area, said Shanida Robinson, program director of the organization. More>
Volunteers of America Dakotas to Expand
Minnehaha County Commissioners today approved a request by the Volunteers of America Dakotas to build a 2,000-square-foot addition to a county-owned building at 1401 W. 51st St. in Sioux Falls. That building houses the nonprofit organization's New Start program that serves pregnant and parenting mothers and adolescents with drug dependency problems. The nonprofit and the county have a 20-year lease agreement on the property. More>