Volunteers of America's Blog

21 - 30

July 31, 2017
Helping All Veterans

Independence Day provides an opportunity every year to honor those serving in the military and reflect upon the sacrifices made to defend our country and its freedoms. While our thoughts naturally go to those currently serving, we shouldn’t forget to think about those who returned home and fell on hard times.
July 25, 2017
A Bipartisan Healthcare Bill Needs to be Fully Vetted in Public

Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has announced that the Senate will hold a procedural vote as early as this afternoon (July 25, 2017) to force the Senate to start debating a healthcare bill. Yet there is actually no bill that has been shared with the Senate, forcing Members to agree to move forward on something they haven’t even seen.
June 28, 2017
The Working Poor: Helping Low-Income Families

One of Volunteers of America’s greatest strengths is our diversity. Our work touches a wide variety of needs, including homelessness, addiction, disability and incarceration. One group we have served throughout our history is those people considered to be the “working poor,” who often struggle to support their families while overcoming limited education and multiple generations of poverty.
May 29, 2017
At Every Stage of a Mother's Life, We're There

While mothers represent pillars of love and support, we must never forget that often mothers need to be cared for, too. We see this at every level of service we offer at Volunteers of America. Many of our programs for low-income families focus on supporting single mothers with young children who need affordable housing, child care and other help.
April 26, 2017
A Staff of Full-Time Professionals and Volunteers

The work we perform centers on those who volunteer their hearts, minds and spirits in support of our mission. This includes two special groups of people – our employees and those unpaid people engaged in what we think of more traditionally as “volunteer work.”
March 31, 2017
Recognizing the Key Role Women Play in Strengthening Our Society

March commemorates Women's History Month. International Women's Day and the anniversary of Volunteers of America's founding also happen to both land on March 8 – how appropriate for an organization co-founded by a strong, trailblazing woman far ahead of her time.
February 27, 2017
What Love Means to Volunteers of America

This time of year, notions of love get wrapped up in the trappings of Valentine's Day, with its hearts and cupids and romantic proclamations. Unfortunately, all too often when people think of love, this is all that comes to mind … the superficial, rather than deeper and more long-lasting expressions of love. With love, it doesn't matter so much what you say but rather what you do.
February 8, 2017
Understanding Volunteers of America

In leading an organization that helps the most vulnerable members of our society, a culture of accountability means that failing in our mission can literally mean the difference between life and death for those we serve. At the very least, failing to live up to expectations creates an additional barrier blocking our clients from transcending their challenges and living the best lives possible.
January 31, 2017
Volunteers of America's 2017 New Year's Goals

As 2016 came to a close, there was much venting in the popular discourse about how awful a year it had been. Most of this focused on the volume of high-profile celebrity deaths combined with thoughts on the presidential campaign and subsequent election. In the New Year, consternation over the new administration and what the future may hold has become an almost constant point of conversation.
December 27, 2016
The True Spirit of Christmas

The spirit of Christmas in our culture has become divided between two seemingly contradictory priorities – the traditional spirit of giving and generosity, mixed with materialism and the search for bargains. We must remember that the true spirit of Christmas is not about buying the latest electronic gadget for 50 percent off.