VOA was selected to be the nonprofit partner of Same Dress Spokane this year, an annual campaign where different artists model and photograph a single dress with their own artistic interpretation. This year, all the proceeds will benefit VOA's Hope House.

VOA's team in Northeast Pennsylvania gathered for an act of service to celebrate and honor VOA's 130 years. The group cleaned up the Seven Tubs Recreation Area, a free natural site where locals cool off in the waterfalls within the Pinchot State Forest. The clean up happened during an extreme heat wave when the area was expected to be heavily used. VOA's team arrived early in the day and families were already enjoying the space -- A few even joined us in our efforts to clean up trash around the site.

VOA's senior residents and their families came together to celebrate National Night Out with food, music, laughter, and connection. From live entertainment and homemade dishes to special visits from local police, firefighters, and community members, the evening was a wonderful reminder that strong communities are built through belonging and fellowship.

"National Night Out means having the opportunity to get together with our neighbors, laugh, play games, and enjoy each other's company. It reminds us that we are a community, not just people who live in the same building." ~ Vicki T.

For the 19th year, VOA Illinois spent the summer knee deep in backpacks. A grand total of 2,089 backpacks were distributed to the kids we serve, including children of veterans, children in families experiencing homelessness, and children in our youth programs. All remaining backpacks were then distributed to local schools and other nonprofits.

To support VOA's Operation Backpack efforts in Chicago, we had 80 volunteers join us to help fill and organize backpacks for families in our residential programs.

Our team hosted an annual Back to School Event at Hope Manor II. VOA distributed 280 backpacks at this event to the children that live at Hope Manor II and Hope Manor Village. In addition to backpacks, there was pizza, ice cream, two face painters, a balloon twister, music, and games!

To celebrate the beginning of the school year, VOA hosted a Back-to-School event at Hope Manor Joliet. The team distributed almost 70 backpacks at this event along with ice cream, snacks, a balloon twister, and a face painter. This event was also the day after a storm that left the property without power (aside from a generator powering the common areas), so the back-to-school bash gave residents a chance to get some relief from the heat.

With the support of dedicated VOA staff, residents from our Trenton and Lafayette programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities enjoyed their second annual prom at Cloudland Canyon State Park. Staff created a fun, inclusive experience where residents danced, socialized, and built new friendships while enjoying one of Georgia’s most scenic and accessible parks.

VOA hosted a back to school resource fair in Sacramento where families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity enjoyed a fun back-to-school celebration with a host of resources. Children received a brand new backpack filled with supplies, a free haircut, ice cream, face painting, games, and enjoyed a kid-friendly DJ, while their families had access resources from 15 vendors serving their community. 200 guests attended the event, but VOA didn't stop there. Close to 2,300 kids will receive stuffed backpacks before the start of the school year.

Our team volunteered at the North West Montana Veterans Stand Down & Food Pantry for its Annual Veterans Appreciation Day in Kalispell, Montana, bringing together veterans, their families, and community partners for a day of connection, support, and appreciation.

Clients from VOA's Life House had the opportunity to give back through a volunteer project at Calvary Baptist Church. The team assisted with the church's annual garage sale, an event that raises funds to support Child Evangelism Fellowship.

Each year, the renowned Bighorn Trail Run brings runners from across the world to the Bighorn Mountains to compete in challenging 100-mile, 52-mile, 32-mile, and 18-mile races. This year, patients from VOA's Life House and Gathering Place had the opportunity to give back by volunteering at the event. Staff also joined them for 2 full days of service.

Staff from Technology Management Resources volunteered to help landscape our Detroit Veterans Housing Program. We're grateful for TMR's generosity and commitment to our veterans.

THe team of legal interns at a local law firm, Heard, McElroy & Vestal, hosted an ice cream social at one of VOA's programs, sharing an afternoon of fun and fellowship.

VOA's Visionaries group of young professionals to host a school supply drive to benefit students at Booker T. Washington High School and Woodlawn High School in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana.

VOA Dakotas community supporters came together to provide a lunch for local veterans this summer. Their efforts served over 75 individuals.

This summer, VOA hit the streets of downtown Sacramento to bring relief to our unhoused neighbors during the extreme summer heat. Several nonprofit organizations and volunteers handed out more than 100 "Stay Cool" kits, ice-cold water, backpacks, and tents to individuals in need -- all part of the Extreme Heat Outreach Initiative.

VOA is grateful to the Home Depot Foundation and the incredible Team Depot volunteers who joined us for a painting project at Innovare. Through their time, energy, and teamwork, volunteers helped prepare welcoming spaces for future residents as they begin their next chapter with dignity, stability, and hope.

The VOA team in Florida has a long-standing partnership with Mt. Olive AME Church that helps the people we serve with essential resources, including food donations for families in our affordable housing properties and programs.

We were incredibly grateful to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) for donating furniture to two of our veterans, Donald and Charles, as they transition into permanent housing. After successfully completing our program and departing in good standing, Donald and Charles received essential furnishings to help turn their new houses into homes.

Over the summer, Target partnered with Jersey Cares to bring one of their Bullseye Builds to VOA's Aletha R. Wright "Vision of Hope" Center in Camden, NJ. over 100 people helped revitalized indoor and outdoor spaces, bringing a new coat of paint and a new sense of pride to the facility.

The Miracle League removes the barriers that prevent children and adults with mental and physical disabilities from participating in baseball, giving them the opportunity to experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime. VOA's staff volunteered as pitchers, catchers, and other on-field help for one of the league's games in Alexandria, VA.

VOA partnered with ARK, an organization founded by Cordelia Cranshaw (former foster youth turned Miss DC Pageant winner) to support youth aging out of foster care, for its 2026 Annual Uniform Drive. Staff donated collared shirts, pants, belts, socks, and underwear to help students start the school year prepared and confident.

With dangerous temperatures this summer, VOA set up small outdoor cooling stations in Wilkes-Barre. A heartfelt thank you to the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Rainbow Alliance for donating more than 20 cases of water to help keep our neighbors safe during the heat wave.

Volunteers from Alcon came together to support VOA's Riverside Residential Treatment Center in Fort Worth, enhancing the outdoor areas through cleaning, planting, and painting -- overhauling the exterior’s look in a noticeable way.