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
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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
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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
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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
hcreel@voase.org
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
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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
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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 jhyde@voase.org and let’s work together to help those in need this
holiday season.
You can make a
difference!
Fall 2012
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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: jhyde@voase.org
_________________________________________________________
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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.®