eagles landing - Volunteers of America Southeast
Transcription
eagles landing - Volunteers of America Southeast
Caring www.voase.org Fall 2012 eagles landing some dreams happen overnight; others take years of nurturing and work Eagles Landing is the result of many, many years of dreaming, planning, and work for Volunteers of America Southeast. Eagle’s Landing, a 40-unit efficiency apartment complex, is a transitional housing community with wrap-around supportive services designed to meet the unique needs of veterans who served in the active military. Eagle’s Landing will officially open this fall! The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that over the course of the year, 336,627 veterans experience homelessness! Eagle’s Landing will provide housing for up to two years, as well as referrals to numerous agencies that provide job training/placement, medical and dental care, educational services, as well as permanent housing. The objective is to provide services to assist in reintegrating veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force by participation in employment training and educational enhancements. A dedication ceremony is appropriately scheduled for Veteran’s Day, November 12. There are numerous ways individuals and businesses can show their support. We are currently seeking sponsorships to furnish each unit as well as a food pantry. Whether it’s through furnishing one of the forty units, or through various volunteer opportunities, there are many ways you can show support and gratitude for the sacrifices these soldiers have made to give us the freedoms we are privileged to have--freedoms that have come at an extremely high cost for these men and women. Contact Steven Dahmer, Program Director at (251) 421-1229 to discuss ways you can help or Amanda Gonzales, Development Director at (251) 338-1266 to make a donation. ADOPT AN APARTMENT! You can be a part of this exciting venture to help our veterans! Only $2,400 will furnish an apartment. You can do all or part. Freedom comes at a high cost! Let’s do our part to pay it forward! Pictured here is one of the new veteran’s apartments at Eagles Landing There are no limits to caring.® Board of Directors President & CEO Dr. Wallace Davis Chair Donald Langham Vice Chair Patsy Dow Treasurer We are launching a new program to serve veterans. This program will help veterans get back on their feet and integrate them back into society. Many are coming home from war; some have been here for some time. We will provide essential services for 40 veterans when our project is complete. The first phase is done, and we will soon begin construction of the 16 apartments yet to be constructed. We are grateful for the funding for this program by the Veterans’ Administration and special funding through HUD. Clark Christianson Secretary Cheryl Williams Board George Bennett Walt Dickerson Dr. Mark Foley Dr. Victor Gaston Rev. Chris George Monique Henley Jack Janecky Jesse Johnson, Jr. Mayor Sam Jones Judge Edmond Naman Lowrey Rhodes Ashley Rich Mike Segrest Rep. Howard Sanderford John Tyson, Jr. Robert A. Williams Pastor Charles York But there is a gap in funding that is needed. We need an additional $108,000 to complete this campus. Maybe you can help us complete this beautiful, 40-apartment campus for veterans. Your giving can make the difference. Please consider how you might help. In addition to this need, the program will offer you and your friends an immediate way that you can help a veteran. You could adopt a veteran’s apartment and provide the furnishings for it. The cost will be $2,400. This would be a great opportunity for a church, faith group, or civic group to adopt an apartment. What’s more, you could adopt this apartment for the long term…thus adopting the veteran who will live there… getting to know his special needs and helping him find his way. These veterans have served our country and all of us. Now we can serve them. Freedom is never free! They are coming home. Help us provide them a place to call home, and our Veterans will know that you care. Thank you for caring. 1 John 3:18: Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. Love in Deed. Listen to Uplifting Moments Tuesday, Wedsnesday, Thursday 7:30 am LiteMix 99.9 FM WKSJ 94.9 FM WZEW 92.1 FM or visit www.voase.org Volunteers Of America Southeast Reaching and Uplifting Families Affected by Disasters At-Risk Youth and Children Elderly People in our Supported Employment Program Veterans Services Substance Abusers People with Intellectual Disabilities Home Ownership People with Chronic Mental Illness Faith-Based and Community Groups People who are Physically Challenged Housing Needs in our Communities People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing 2,140 People Served Every Day in Residential Settings Fall 2012 2 Caring light of the village grows This summer was definitely exciting in serving youth and children! Four hundred twenty local children from low-income neighborhoods participated in the summer camp program. This provided a safe, nurturing environment for these children as well as a nutritious lunch each day. Due to the success of this camp, plans are underway to expand and offer an additional camp site next summer. Pictured here are children who attended summer camps through Light of the Village. There were many student volunteers who helped out with activities. With all this activity, there was also a dramatic increase in the total number of volunteers and the hours they donated. We had 1,950 volunteers donating 57,582 hours of service this summer! The beginning of the school year has also seen an increase in enrollment in our afterschool program. The Prichard and Bay Minette after-school programs will expand their services from two to four days a week. These programs are free to the students With a tremendous increase in needs among families in our community, there has been an overwhelming response to help the children. Operation Backpack 2012 was an outstanding success with 1,349 backpacks filled with gradeappropriate school supplies! These backpacks helped children in foster care, children registered through the Department of Human Resources’ in-home case management, and other children in need begin the school year fully equipped. With a generous gift and the support of businesses such as TeleVox Software, Walgreens, Aviation Credit Union, HUB One Logistics, Gospel Music Channel, plus contributions by numerous individuals, backpacks were distributed through our offices in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Through Operation Backpack, many children in foster care and other needy families were provided new backpacks filled with supplies. Caring 3 Fall 2012 volunteers of america southeast financial literacy A grant from the Gulf Communities Initiative Grant of the Community Foundation of South Alabama to Volunteers of America Southeast allows us to offer classes for financial literacy education. As part of This Way Home Housing Resource Center, these free classes are designed to teach banking, budgeting basics, how to use credit wisely, how to pay for college and cars, and how to avoid the credit card “trap”. To have these classes taught for your students, contact Henry “Digger” Creel at 251-338-1280. Parents - Grandparents - Teachers ATTENTION! ATTENTION! Financial Literacy Classes FREE! FREE! Give your Child / Grandchild an Advantage in Today’s Competitive World Banking 101 Info: 251-338-1280 www.voase.org Budget Basics Using Credit Wisely Paying for College and Cars Avoiding the Credit Card Trap This Program Made Possible by the Gulf Communities Initiative Grant of the Community Foundation of South Alabama and Volunteers of America Southeast Info: 251-338-1280 [email protected] With the current record-low interest rates, there is no better time to purchase a home. If you or someone you know is considering the purchase of a home, contact Henry “Digger” Creel at 251-338-1280. Mr. Creel will review everything you need to make sure you are “mortgage ready” and “mortgage savvy”. As with many programs, there are special bonuses for veterans. the parker house--a way to give back It is amazing what can happen when people are brought together to help a family in need. A local building inspector introduced Derrick Tapper of Volunteers of America to Mr. Richard Parker. While Richard, an army veteran, was deployed overseas, his family lost their home and everything they owned to Hurricane Katrina. Through a series of misfortunes, the Parker home is still unfinished. Thankfully, Derrick and members of the Moravian Disaster Effort have partnered to help Richard and his family complete their home. Although additional funds are still needed to purchase the necessary supplies to finish the house, Richard recently wrote to Derrick, “We are grateful for the help that you all have given us in enabling us to move forward with The Parker’s house under construction. the reconstruction of our home.” Efforts are underway to raise the funds needed so that Volunteers of America and the Moravian Disaster Effort will have his home completed before Richard leaves for Afghanistan in February. If you are interested in helping with the completion of the Parkers’ home, contact Derrick Tapper at 251-622-1255. Fall 2012 4 Caring faith works! SINCE May 2010, Volunteers of America has been working with a group of over 15 churches in south Alabama to identify and respond to the needs of local residents affected by the BP oil spill. Through this ministry, known as Faith Works, families have received both physical and spiritual care from local congregations. Recently, Volunteers of America Southeast received a grant through the Community Foundation of Southwest Alabama to assist with increasing the impact of the Faith Works mission. This grant has allowed Volunteers of America to secure the assistance of consultant Letetia Daniels Jackson to guide the churches in identifying and addressing the root causes of poverty in the area. As a result of this effort, the churches will unite in long-term cooperation to confront and seek to eliminate those issues which create hardships for the people of the community. national recovery month Although each day in a recovery program is a day to celebrate, the month of September is recognized as National Recovery Month. Recovery Month promotes the benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders, celebrates people in recovery, celebrates the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promotes the message that recovery, in all its forms, is possible. The success of recovery was evident at The Millennium Center in Cuthbert, Georgia and at The Pines in Valdosta, Georgia. These are two of Volunteers of America’s program facilities. Residents at the Millennium Center were joined by the Mayor of Cuthbert as they participated in a balloon release, with each balloon carrying a recovery message from each lady enrolled in the program. Recovery Month spreads the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. people can and do recover! Balloons were released carrying a recovery message from each lady enrolled in the program at the Millennium Center in Cuthbert, GA. Caring 5 Fall 2012 Season of Caring 2012 10 caring gifts As part of our Season of Caring, Volunteers of America Southeast has partnered with WALA Fox10 for over twenty years to promote 10 Caring Gifts. 10 Caring Gifts provides individuals or groups with the opportunity to come together and choose exactly what area of need their contributions will help. Generous individuals and businesses in our community have partnered together over the years to provide food, coats, blankets, and toys to families, elderly, and children in need. With the current economic conditions in the communities we serve, the needs this year will be even greater. With your generous support, we will once again be able to serve families, the elderly, and children who would otherwise be without this holiday season. Choose exactly what your contribution will be used for and 100% of that donation will help people in your community. Just select one of the 10 Caring Gifts on the following page and your tax-deductible donation will be used for that purpose. No amount is too small to make a difference in the life of someone in need. food for the holidays For the past ten years, Volunteers of America has brought together individuals, area businesses, and volunteer groups to provide food for those in need. According to a report by the Food Research and Action Center, 23.4 percent of Alabama’s residents couldn’t afford enough food for their families. This is the 2nd highest percentage in the country! In an effort to help with this staggering number of families, Food for the Holidays was developed. With many people helping just a little, much can be done to help these hungry families. You can make a difference by coordinating a food-drive, establishing a distribution site to sort and distribute non-perishable goods, or by making a monetary donation. 100% of all donations designated for Food for the Holidays will be used to help those in need. Together we can provide food for families and the elderly in our community. Contact Janet Hyde at 251-338-1294 or email [email protected] and let’s work together to help those in need this holiday season. You can make a difference! Fall 2012 6 Caring 10 Caring Gifts 2012 1 Caring Tree (Toys) - Make a difference for a child who is separated from their parents by providing new gifts that will give them hope, happiness, and a better outlook on life this Christmas morning. 2 School / Art Supplies - Purchase school supplies or art supplies for children or people with intellectual disabilities in our community programs. 3 Coats and Jackets - Donate a new (or “gently used”) coat or jacket for the homeless, struggling military veterans, or other people in need in our community. 4 Blankets - Warm someone in need with a new blanket. They will be distributed to at-risk children, frail elderly, homeless, and people with special needs. 5 Veterans Program - Provide non-perishable food items to stock a food pantry at our transitional housing program for veterans, Eagle’s Landing, or purchase gift cards to help with their daily needs. 6 Christmas Ornaments - Touch someone’s life with a Christmas ornament. Design your own special ornaments to be distributed to elderly adults who will be alone during the holidays. 7 Food for the Holidays - Provide non-perishable food items for people in our community who are in need, including at-risk children, frail elderly, homeless, and people with special needs. 8 Pennies for Patriots - Collect pennies to support active troops or veterans during the holidays. The funds will purchase phone cards for deployed service members or give struggling veterans a “hand up”. 9 Caring Kits - Kits should include: Toothpaste, Tooth Brushes, Wash Cloths, Bar Soap, Small Shampoos, Hand Sanitizer, Combs, Facial Tissue, Wet Wipes, Band Aids, Anti-bacterial Ointment, & Deodorant. 10 CASH GIFT - Designate one or more of the above gifts and tell us how you would like your cash donation distributed. Or, if you would like, your donation may be used in our “Greatest Need” fund. Sponsored by: **VolunteersofAmericaSoutheastisanon-profit, 501(c)(3)organization. Receipts are available for tax purposes, and gift amounts are confidential. 100 % of all donations will be used to directly help those in need. ** Donor Name: Distribute my donation of $_____________ as follows: $__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ Caring Tree School / Art Supplies Coats / Jackets Blankets Veterans Program Christmas Ornaments Food for the Holidays Pennies for Patriots Caring Kits Greatest Need In □ Memory or □ Honor of Caring Please mail or deliver this form with your gift or check to: Volunteers of America Southeast 600 Azalea Road Mobile, AL 36609 To donate using a credit card, please visit www.voase.org and donate online. More Info Call: 251-338-1294 Email: [email protected] _________________________________________________________ 7 Fall 2012 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1530 MOBILE, AL 600 Azalea Road Mobile, AL 36609 (251) 300-3500 (800) 859-4431 www.voase.org Caring Editor: Barbara Davis Contributors: Keith Ferguson and Janet Hyde VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA POSITIONING STATEMENT Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, spiritually-based organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement. food pantry hits the streets! One of the goals at Volunteers of America Southeast is to partner with various businesses, churches, and individuals to bring together the dreams of those who want to help individuals in need. Through a partnership with the employees of Allstate/Pilot, along with area churches, Volunteers of America Southeast has coordinated several deliveries of the mobile food pantry. The mobile food pantry is a service of the Bay Area Food Bank that strives to get food to families in need. By utilizing the relationship between the employees of Allstate/Pilot, Volunteers of America, and area churches, the mobile food pantry has delivered over 35,000 pounds of food in our community so far, with more to come! belk charity sale Wake up early on Saturday, November 3rd, shop the fantastic sale prices on merchandise at Belk in BelAir Mall, and at the same time you can help those in need in our community. Purchase a $5 Belk Charity Sale ticket and shop special discounts from 6:00 to 10:00am. The ticket is a $5 coupon toward your purchase and the ticket money goes to charities in our community. Contact Janet Hyde at 251-368-1294 if you want to sell tickets for your church or civic group. There are no limits to caring.®
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