Stories

We are thrilled to share the incredible success of our inaugural Reach for the Stars Dinner on April 3, 2024, at Orpheum Theater. The evening was dedicated to celebrating the transformative impact of our Family Focused Recovery Program and honoring those who have been instrumental in our community. Induction into the Ballington Benefactor Society One of the most significant moments of the evening was the induction ceremony for our esteemed Ballington Benefactors. We were honored to welcome Roy Carubba, Terry & Geneva Forstall, Chuck & Susan Viator, The Bollinger Family Foundation, J. Edgar Monroe Foundation, RosaMary Foundation, and Oscar J….

In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana (VOASELA) proudly spotlights its Independent Living program and the extraordinary individuals it serves. Over four years, a tight-knit group of individuals has united to revel in a beloved American pastime—bowling. Among them stand Bobby White, Dexter Washington, Joey Hammonds, and Larry Gordon, champions of the VOASELA family for over two decades. Reflecting on his journey, Joey Hammonds expresses profound gratitude, affirming, “VOA has enabled me to relish independence.” Joey’s sentiment encapsulates the ethos of VOASELA’s Independent Living program—a commitment to empowering individuals with developmental disabilities to lead enriching,…

Many veterans who honorably served our country have trouble adjusting to civilian life. Hundreds of veterans live homeless on the streets of New Orleans. Lance Bryant used to be there himself. Bryant was a gifted high school athlete who attended LSU. He joined the Navy, where he spent five years as a “yell man” on an aircraft carrier. After an honorable discharge, Bryant moved back to Louisiana and worked in the hospitality industry. He then experienced several life-changing events—his parents divorced and his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Bryant became his father’s sole caregiver, a situation that led to…

Team Depot volunteers made a difference at our Gayoso transitional housing site last month. Twenty volunteers from seven New Orleans-district Home Depot stores painted the walls and trim of the Gayoso transitional housing unit which was damaged by smoke from a kitchen fire. Team Depot not only donated the labor and materials such as brushes, rollers, ladders and drop clothes, they enlisted the help of their vendor to donate 22 gallons of Glidden paint and additional volunteers.

Rickey, an Army veteran who served in West Germany during the 1980s, is no stranger to challenges. Following his military service, he tried a number of vocational pursuits—carpenter, welder, even deckhand—finally settling into driving a taxicab in 2003. About a year ago, a hunting accident severely injured Rickey’s foot. Suddenly, he was unable to drive and had no livelihood. Financial and emotional hardships followed. Without nearby relatives or close friends to support him, Rickey found himself homeless. Fortunately, the VA hospital referred Rickey to Volunteers of America’s Veterans Transitional Housing program facility on Napoleon Avenue, where he could live and…

The sacrifice, the struggle, the strength are a few words of the many that describes this war veteran, Andre Hill. He was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hill in a small town – the eldest of three. In March of 1998, the sacrifice began for Hill. He served faithfully three years in the United States Army. With this experience and exposure to the big world came the ability to try and do many new things, both good and bad. But his exposure to crack and alcohol would ultimately change his life forever. Seeking treatment off and on for many years…

Robert, a former Army mechanic, served our country in the late 1970’s. His difficulties began after his mother died. He had lived with her as primary caregiver over her five-year illness. Robert was devastated, and then had to leave the family home because of conflict with his sister. He lost his driver’s license because of DUIs and had trouble getting to work. Faced with no income and no home, Robert turned to Volunteers of America. Though devastated, he was positive and determined to regain self-sufficiency. The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program helped Robert find a job as a security guard, and…

Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans would like to extend a huge “thank you” to our friends with Team Depot. Last month, 45 volunteers from eight different stores lent their time and expertise at The Cottages at Mile Branch, part of our workforce housing facility in Covington, by landscaping soon-to-be completed family homes. Of the 25 new homes being built at The Cottages, 13 are reserved for veterans and their families. Also in attendance at the volunteer event were veteran Larry, his wife JoeAnn, and their grandson, Kardeair, who enjoyed seeing the progress, and will be moving into one of…

Thanks to The Home Depot Foundation, veterans served by Volunteers of America will have more resources to use in rebuilding their lives. The Home Depot Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans to address the critical housing needs of homeless veterans. These funds were part of $1.795 million in grants announced for 10 Volunteers of America homeless veterans programs in eight states. “We’re proud to support the important work Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans is doing every day to help homeless and at-risk veterans,” said Gaven Gregory, Executive Director of The Home Depot Foundation….

38,000 Hours of Community Service Celebrated In an early celebration of National Volunteer Week (April 15-22), Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana’s RSVP Volunteers gathered for an annual recognition luncheon celebrating more than 38,000 hours of community service in 2018. The RSVP luncheon was held at the Fleur de Lis Event Center in Mandeville, on Saturday, April 7, 2018. The Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana RSVP Volunteers are a select group of volunteers 55 years of age and older who use their time, skills and life experiences to help meet critical needs across St. Tammany Parish. Without the RSVP Volunteers, many…