Stories

According to Deloitte’s 2022 back-to-school survey, parents plan to spend an average of $661 per child on back-to-school shopping so their student is prepared for a year of educational success. In fact, according to Deloitte, back-to-school shopping is the second largest annual expense for families after the holidays. There is no question that having the required supplies is important for a student – being prepared to take on another year of school with the right tools in hand can be a game changer. However, when a family is living paycheck to paycheck, children learn to make do with what they have…

We serve over 400 seniors at VOADV, and the dedicated members of our Supportive Housing Department go above and beyond every day to make sure they are receiving compassion and respect. Shaunta Majette is one of those people. A Social Service Coordinator at Lindenwold Towers, one of our housing communities for income-qualified seniors, Shaunta works every day to help her clients succeed physically, financially and emotionally. Whether it is help with a benefits program application, assistance obtaining furniture for their apartment, or even a pep talk when they’re feeling down, Shaunta is there for them. A day in the life of…

At VOADV, our team members use their unique stories and experiences to serve clients with both kindness and skill every day. Victor Hayes is the Senior Housing Coordinator for our Safe Return and Navigator programs. This entails serving multiple counties and overseeing housing services that take place at Navigational Resource Centers in Atlantic City, Bridgeton, Camden and Trenton. Mr. Hayes works closely with his staff of housing coordinators to secure both temporary and permanent housing for some of our communities’ most vulnerable individuals. There is no typical day in the life for our housing team. When an individual needs services, VOADV meets them where…

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant impact and presented at times overwhelming challenges, but VOADV staff worked harder than ever to provide essential support and protection for our communities and clients. We are grateful that our focus can now turn to expanding the innovative services born out of those challenges, and ensuring that there are no barriers to our clients accessing them. This is possible in part thanks to a $500,000 grant from Congressman Donald Norcross through the Funding for the People Act. The funds will be used to increase telehealth capacity at our shelter sites so men, women, children,…

125 years of service certainly calls for a celebration, and for the past year, we have been doing just that. As Volunteers of America’s 125th anniversary approached on March 8, we knew we wanted to highlight and thank the people that make it all possible: our incredible staff. They serve every day with compassion, and deserve to be thanked for helping build our legacy for the next 125 years. The celebration started with a cupcake delivery to each of our 40 programs on our anniversary day. Every single staff member would be able to enjoy a delicious treat from a local…

“You make it possible.” This is the theme of our 125th anniversary and an undisputed fact throughout all of VOADV’s programs. Our incredible staff are the ones who make everything we do possible, serving each day with compassion and dedication. Every member of the VOADV family has a story and a unique perspective in their role. Meet Karen Gilliam – a VOADV team member for 11 years, and the Integrated Services Supporting Independence (ISSI) Office Manager for the past eight. ISSI is a residential program for individuals diagnosed with a mental illness that provides case management, treatment, rehabilitation, and community reintegration….

For many nursing students, their future profession is defined by long hours in a hospital and providing incredibly important medical care. However, there is a whole other side to the job according to Rutgers Camden Community Health Nursing professor, Kerrie Kelly. “Nurses need to be the ones that bridge the gap between medical care and social work,” she says. “For example, when a woman in need comes to the hospital to have a baby, the other things she is dealing with don’t just disappear. It is important that nurses are familiar with resources to help them as much as possible.”…

While it is our staff serving day in and day out that make a direct difference in our client’s lives, it is the support from our community and other organizations that makes it possible to grow our impact within our programs and beyond. We are excited to announce that we have received a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) to do just that. The AHP’s awards are designed to address local housing needs as well as drive community development, and we are grateful for the impact this grant will have on our new family…

For many people, the holiday season is defined by family gatherings, picking out the perfect gift for a loved one, and seeing the joy on a child’s face on Christmas morning. However, there are hundreds of local parents who want to create that same magical feeling for their children but struggle to do so. That is where the Adopt A Family program comes in. Our mission is to connect local families with donors that can help make the holiday season a little brighter by providing toys, food and other basic necessities. This year for our 10th Anniversary we set the record-breaking goal of…

Estelle Haskins always knew she wanted to help others as a career. When she saw that Agape House was hiring, and learned that her mother previously worked at the shelter for single adults and families, it felt like it was meant to be. However, no matter how strong her connection to the shelter, nothing could have prepared her for one overnight shift just four months into her position when Hurricane Ida came barreling through. Estelle started at Agape in May 2021 as a Program Assistant. She is responsible for client orientation and assisting with the day-to-day tasks of running a shelter –…