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Foster Care Volunteer Opportunities: The Example of The Holland Family
“I’m so grateful that we trusted our gut and started fostering the twins as babies because they gave us our forever family.”
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Ricky
“Each day, I try to provide some encouraging words to the staff. I let them know that I’m always available to help them in any way.”
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Jose
“You can make your future happen.”
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Finn
“The bottom fell out when the pandemic hit … I was on the verge of homelessness for the second time in my life.”
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Chris
“My mom got WIC when we were kids. I’ve had just buttered noodles for dinner or chili all week. I understand.”
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Patrick
“One of the staff members recently said, ‘It’s tenants like Patrick, that makes serving others a treasure.’”
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Crystal
“I am extremely worried about the long-term effects the pandemic will have on healthcare professionals, including myself. I fear that there may be a shortage of professionals in the next 3-5 years because of burnout.”
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Renee
“Then, when he became abusive to our oldest son, I knew that I was not going to subject my children to what I had experienced as a teenager from my stepfather. I chose to leave.”
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Susan
“In October, 2017, I lost my three sons—Erik, 16; Devon, 12; and Ezekiel, 7 to a senseless act of violence.”
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Didi
“When I finally told some of my friends that I lived in a shelter, they couldn’t believe it. I thought they’d see me as an outcast but they didn’t.”
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Zella
“If you go back on your side of town, you will die.”
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Katrina
“I knew that I had to get out of my living situation, but the fear of homelessness worried me more than living in the abuse.”
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Christa
“Throughout the pandemic, as parts of our programs had to close down and we had to shift, the greatest thing is the way we have all worked together.”
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Heaven
“When I was just two years old, I started learning braille so that I could help my dad. When he realized my interest in learning, he poured every dollar and every ounce of his energy into ensuring that I would get a fair chance at success.”
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Robert
“My life fell apart to the point where I became homeless, and even lost contact with my daughter, which will always be the biggest regret of my life.”
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Kumaria
“We make a difference in the lives of the people we serve but they make a difference in our lives as well.”
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Chaly
“I realized through all of this that for families, incarceration is just as bad for the children as it is for the parent.”
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Pam
“I’m exhausted at the end of most days … I worry that we will lose some nurses because they will feel they no longer can give anything else for a while.”
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Kirby: Her Journey with VOA Bronx Early Learning Center
“I’ve come such a long way since I was that shy toddler all those years ago.”
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Natasha
“This isn’t a job for everybody. You really have to have a passion to do this. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
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Lenox’s story with VOA’s Supported Living Services
“At two months, he was diagnosed with leukemia and given just two weeks to live. With experimental chemotherapy, he survived.”
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Stories of Homelessness: BrittanyBrittany
“Who would have thought that something as simple as making a bed every day could be so life-changing?”
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Sasha
“It has brought me great joy knowing I was able to have a positive impact on a young life.”
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Barbara: Meaningful Work at Volunteers of America National Office
“I was overwhelmed by the graciousness of the Puerto Rican residents we helped. In a senior facility with 240 elderly and disabled individuals, there were no complaints when we arrived, only thanks and warm smiles.”
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Steve’s Journey and Experience with our Veterans Facility
“For me, what I still find unbelievable is that I became homeless. I was educated and had a long work history.”
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Boyd
“When I played at Volunteers of America’s GolfStar Classic with my son, Tom, to support the VOA adoption program, few realized that we were far more invested in the program than others.”
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James
“I’ve always loved helping people. Having been in a situation where I had to depend on others has made me more determined to continue to help people as much as I can.”
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Stories of Homelessness: Ralph
“I was thinking that it would be easy to get back on my feet. It wasn’t that easy.”
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Wayne Miller
“Treatment is for a season, but God and recovery are for a lifetime.”
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Pastor Al
“I was the first ex-con to be allowed Chaplaincy at the same prison that locked me up for years.”
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Stories of Homelessness: Charmaine
“This time around I saw I needed help and eventually sought out the help for myself because it was the first time I felt people around me genuinely wanted to see me win.”
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Wayne
“The hospital staff tells me that I have a great, positive attitude. The staff and nurses made me a special ‘Best Patient Award’.”
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Cristina: From Patient to Volunteer at the Freedom House Louisville Kentucky
“Every day, I’m helping women just like me. As the Intake Specialist, I’m like the front door. And I can relate to people because I’ve been there.”
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Stories of Volunteers: Lloyd
“Getting the chance to help others makes me feel truly blessed every day.”
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Stories of Volunteers: Sheila
“This just shows how the things we do outside of our own paid professions can contribute to our preparedness at work.”
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Stories of Volunteers: Kelly
“I did not go home to my family for over 2 months, just because I wanted to keep them safe. I’ve missed my loved ones and my home.”
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