Past Spirit Issues

Fall/Winter 2009 Issue
Spring/Summer 2009 Issue
Fall/Winter 2008 Issue
Winter 2007/08 Issue

Fall/Winter 2009 Issue

Since 1896, Volunteers of America has been serving prisoners and their families. Reform and redemption were core values promulgated by founders Maud and Ballington Booth. Maud believed in a holistic approach when working with people touched by incarceration, and it is in that vein we advance with our family strengthening initiative—Look Up and Hope: Strengthening Families Impacted by Incarceration. Our mission is to break the cycle of poverty for children affected by incarceration, improve family functioning and preserve families.

By introducing a new, more holistic and research-based approach to breaking the cycles of poverty and incarceration, Volunteers of America commits itself to supporting the long-term success of children and their incarcerated parent. Our goal is to empower Look Up and Hope participants with the skills, relationships and resiliency needed to help families finally transcend the devastating effects of poverty and incarceration.   Volunteers of America believes the Look Up and Hope initiative is unique in that it uses the time of incarceration as an opportunity to strengthen a mother’s parenting and employment skills, and rebuild relationships between the child, mother and caregiver in preparation for reentry to society. This approach strengthens the family unit as a whole. Volunteers of America understands that connections to natural support systems, including faith communities, are key to family success.

Let us begin now—together—to support our children impacted by incarceration and help rebuild and strengthen families across the nation. 

To learn more about our Family Strengthening Iniatives, please read the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Spirit Magazine.

Spring/Summer 2009 Issue

Our nation is on the cusp of one of the most dramatic demographic shifts in its history as a projected 71.5 million people will be age 65 or older by the year 2030. The demands this will place on our country’s current system of providing elder care are daunting and the time to prepare is now.

Volunteers of America has spent more than a century anticipating and adapting to the needs of the most vulnerable citizens and we believe our mission today is to rise to the challenge of caring for an aging America. In preparation for the growing health care needs associated with the rising number of aging individuals, Volunteers of America will be proactive by expanding our current senior services. To learn more about the innovative and progressive programs we will develop and implement, please read the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Spirit Magazine.

Our initiative has one goal for every older American: to age with options. The call for help has risen; we have answered; and now, we invite you to join us as we take this journey.

Keeping PACE on the Western Slope   Rural western Colorado. Wide open spaces with room to breathe. There may be miles between one neighbor and another, or, at the very least, several acres between one door and the next. This scene is a romantic vision of the West for many of us; but for the older rural population, living in isolated locations can be a serious disadvantage when help is required.   Serving seniors in rural communities is challenging. By in large, the elderly prefer to remain in their own homes as they become more frail. With few services and care facilities located nearby, leaving home means leaving community and, often, family. Cost of care is another consideration for wanting to remain in their homes. To meet this challenge, Volunteers of America has brought PACE (Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) to the Western Slope of Colorado. Learn more.


Fall/Winter 2008 Issue
The Path from Homeless to Hopeful

Phonecia Carney, an Army veteran, and her son Jeremiah and daughter Valajia were helped out of homelessness by Volunteers of America of Kentucky.
Throughout the United States, Volunteers of America offers a place to call home for those without shelter, whether from long-term homelessness or personal crisis. As many as 700,000 Americans are homeless on any given night; and 200,000 of these homeless individuals are veterans.

Volunteers of America works to prevent and end homelessness for individuals and families through a range of support services. These services include: eviction prevention, emergency services, housing, transitional housing with services and permanent affordable housing. For more than a century, we have also worked to ensure that our veterans are supported as they confront homelessness, lack of employment opportunities, and mental, emotional and physical challenges.

Our primary focus in the public policy arena is our advocacy work around permanent supporitve housing and supportive services as effective tools to eradicate homelessness. But we do not do this without help - help from Volunteers of America's constituents - leaders, staff, volunteers and you.

To learn more about the issue of homelessness in America as well as read some amazing success stories of individuals that, with Volunteers of America's help, have overcome homelessness, please read our Fall/Winter 2008 Issue of Spirit.

To assist in Volunteers of America's efforts to end homelessness, learn how you can give back.


Winter 2007/08 Issue
Never Too Late: Seniors Retool with Technology

Elnora Brown, a resident of Volunteers of America's Eastland Care Center in Columbus, Ohio, demonstrates the use "It's Never 2 Late" technology.
In this issue of Spirit, technology and therapy combined to help seniors stay connected and engaged is featured. IN2L is an innovative technology solutions for elders. It makes using the computer, connecting to the internet and playing games accessible and fun - all while delivering therapies and treatment in the process. Residents at facilities in the 26 states where IN2L is currently in use can use the system to simulate bicycling, driving, flying and even painting. To see demonstrations of the system in action, click here.

To learn more about IN2L as well as how Volunteers of America is helping to meet the complex needs of veterans, please read our Winter 2007/08 Issue of Spirit. A multifaceted program in North Louisiana that offers after-school care, mentoring, counseling and leadership training and other family resources to inner-city families in Shreveport and Bossier City is also profiled.

To assist in Volunteers of America's efforts to help those in need such as seniors, inner-city families and veterans, learn how you can give back.