Volunteers of America's Blog

41 - 50

March 29, 2016
A History of Helping America's Most Vulnerable

More than a century ago, our co-founder made quite the name for herself. In a time when women rarely worked outside the home, Maud did things in the name of charity that most proper Victorian ladies would never dream to consider. She became known as the "little mother of the prisons" because she would go into Sing Sing prison to minister to the inmates.
February 28, 2016
Sometimes Love is Not Enough

During the Valentine’s season, statements of love bombard us from all directions – some of them profound and some of them cheesy. In the profound category, Oscar Wilde once said, "Who, being loved, is poor?" There's a lot of truth in this statement. Love transcends material wealth and brings true meaning and joy into one's life.
January 20, 2016
Volunteers of America's 2016 New Year's Resolutions

With the start of the New Year, many of us use this time as an opportunity to identify those areas of our lives we would like to improve and "resolve" to make a change for the better. Most of these are relatively simple resolutions, like eating better or going to the gym more often. Sometimes we are more successful at changing our lives than others. We may falter a few times before achieving lasting, positive change.
December 14, 2015
Your Support Makes a Critical Difference

With the unseasonably warm weather in most of the country this December, many have complained about how difficult it has been to get into the Christmas spirit. For those of us who grew up in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s hard to believe that the season of joy is upon us when it feels more like Easter outside.
November 16, 2015
Helping the Less Fortunate: A Holiday Tradition

With everything going on in the world right now – terrorist attacks, a harrowing presidential campaign with no end in sight – it’s easy to forget that this is a time when we are supposed to count our blessings and give thanks. For years, the November season of giving thanks seems to have gotten lost as we segue from Turkey Day to Black Friday and the month-long buying frenzy leading up to Christmas.
October 15, 2015
Volunteers of America's Correctional Programs

With the changing leaves and dipping temperatures, autumn symbolizes the periods of transition experienced by all of us. While we usually think of spring as a transitional time of rebirth, the fall can represent something of even greater substance. This is the traditional time of the harvest, when the fruits of our labors during the preceding year come to fruition.
September 15, 2015
Helping Children in Poverty Thrive

We tend to imagine childhood as a time of carefree innocence, when youngsters play and go to school without the pressures and disappointments of adult life. Sadly, many children don’t enjoy this kind of idealized upbringing. For those in poverty, the harsh realities of the world become part of their day-to-day lives at an early age.
August 24, 2015
Volunteers of America's Assistance During Natural Disasters

A decade ago, I had recently joined Volunteers of America as CEO of our Texas affiliate when Hurricane Katrina barreled toward the Gulf Coast. Hundreds of our clients in New Orleans, many of them elderly or physically disabled, had to be hastily evacuated to Houston for what at the time was expected to be a three- or four-day exile.
July 15, 2015
Volunteers of America's Programs for Veterans

July 4th 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 often forget to think about those who returned home and fell on hard times.
June 22, 2015
Finding Hope After Tragedy: Understanding Moral Injury

Without question, the recent church shootings in Charleston were unspeakably tragic. I hesitate to say there could ever be a “silver lining” to an event so heinous, but like the rest of the world I’ve been greatly inspired by the outpouring of love and support from the Charleston community and beyond directed toward the families of those murdered and the larger Mother Emanuel AME congregation.