Stories

Colton had recently lost his father and he was being bullied at school. But a police detective recommended him for a Volunteers of America wilderness camp that made all the difference. In fact, in the two years since Colton attended the camp, nothing seems insurmountable to him anymore.

Thanks to Volunteers of America and The Home Depot, an Ohio family has gone from homelessness to a stable life filled with possibilities. Darla has lived for the past four years with her two sons in permanent supportive housing provided by our Ohio office. She will “graduate” from the program at the end of August now that she has obtained full-time employment with The Home Depot.

Bishop Troy and Debra Garner have four adult children and have adopted seven more. The Garners first became foster parents through Volunteers of America Illinois. They adopted six children and when another child was in need of a home, Kim made the call to see if the Garners would like to adopt their seventh child - and they did.

Pastor Al Peratt’s life is a powerful testament to redemption. A former drug trafficker and convicted felon, Pastor Al draws from a wealth of personal experience as he leads Volunteers of America Dakotas' prison ministry. “Pastor Al reaches out to those who society rejects. Having been incarcerated himself, Pastor Al has been called to reach out to those inside the walls of prison."

Marilynn Moe may have moved into one of our senior-living and care community, but she is not the type to slow down. She’s practically a one-woman welcoming committee! She's a woman on a mission: making sure every one of her 120 fellow residents feels at home.

"After I finished my service, I found myself homeless and hopeless with my daughter and pregnant with my son but the mere thought of residing at Blue Butterfly Village gave me hope to keep going." Learn more about veteran Tasha and her family's story of lives changed for the better in one of our affordable housing properties.

​Can you imagine being a single mom with two children as well as an honorably discharged veteran - and homeless? That is what happened to Melissa Fernandez and her two kids. In her own words, Melissa explains how Volunteers of America Greater Los Angeles' Blue Butterfly Village, a two bedroom townhouse community for formerly homeless families, turned their lives around.​

A young student and a standout athlete loses first his sight and then his hearing. Would he ever be independent again? Learn how Volunteers of America Illinois' Spruce Manor, an apartment community specifically designed for individuals with disabilities, allowed Willie to live in his own place.

Amy Kalber spent years struggling with her addiction, but today, she has been sober for more than five years after receiving Volunteers of America Mid-State's life-saving services at Freedom House. Amy, who is now working towards a social work degree at the University of Louisville shared that during her recovery, Volunteers of America helped her rediscover who she is as a person at her deepest core.

Dwayne served in the Army for eight years but his military career was sidelined when he suffered multiple strokes. Unable to work, Dwayne and his three sons faced a bleak future with limited options. But with the help of Volunteers of America Northern California and Northern Nevada, Dwayne was saved from homelessness and reunited with his three sons.