Dear Friend,

We would like to officially welcome you to the new year and decade with the relaunch of Caring Chronicles ! Caring Chronicles is our bi-annual newsletter where we share about our community impact, latest happenings, inspiring stories and ways to get involved at our organization with our donors, staff, volunteers and partners. We hope you enjoy this issue of Caring Chronicles and look forward to connecting with you in 2020!
We've Merged with VOA Carolinas!
On July 1, 2019, we officially merged our organization with Volunteers of America Carolinas to become Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas! Combining forces will enable us to help nearly 9,600 individuals in need of supportive housing, workforce development and health care each year.
We distributed backpacks & supplies to over 
2,000 children during Operation Backpack!
Children show off their new backpacks at our Back-to-School Bash at Lexington Market in Baltimore, MD.
Thanks to the support of our staff, volunteers and corporate partners, Operation Backpack provided 1,600 backpacks and school supplies to homeless and underprivileged children living in Virginia, Maryland and DC in time for the new school year. 

The families we serve were so grateful for the community support. Read what mother of three Ashley Tate had to say about the impact the program has had on her two girls.
A Dream Come True
Former Pratt House resident Faith Kennedy (left) poses with Natasha Paris St. Amand (right) who leads our 
Ready.Set.Live! workplace and social program.
When Faith Kennedy, 55, came to our Pratt House Supportive Housing Program three years ago with her grandson, she was looking for a home and stability. In addition to housing, our staff provided her the counseling and psychiatric rehabilitation services she needed. During her time with us, Faith took advantage of different workforce development opportunities including our brand-new Ready Set Live! workplace etiquette program.

Read what Faith thought about the program and how it helped her towards independence.
We raised $110,000 at Harvest for Hope!
More than 220 people fill the room at the Army Navy Country in Arlington, VA for Harvest for Hope.
On October 24, 2019, we celebrated our 10th Annual Harvest for Hope! The event significantly outpaced previous years, raising $110,000 in support of our Virginia- and DC-based health and human services programs. 

We welcomed more than 220 of our donors, partners, staff, volunteers and supporters, including special guests Virginia State Senator Barbara Favola; Virginia State Senator Adam Ebbin; Virginia State Delegate Ibraheem Samirah; Virginia State Delegate Vivian Watts; Virginia State Delegate Patrick Hope; and Arlington County Board Members Matt De Ferranti and Katie Cristol.

Read more to see a list of some of our top sponsors and donors!
Our Maple Court Ribbon Cutting was a hit!
North Carolina State Senator Michael Woodard speaks to the audience at our Maple Court ribbon cutting.
On Friday, October 25, 2019, we welcomed more than 60 people, including eight elected officials to a special ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the reopening of our Maple Court Veterans Transitional Housing Program in Durham, NC.

Thanks to a $180,00 grant from The Home Depot Foundation and the hardwork of local volunteers, we successfully renovated the apartments to the benefit of our veteran residents.
Introducing the VOA Resource Center, a new product redistribution center for nonprofits
From left to right: Heather Campbell (Field Representative, Senator Ben Cardin’s Office), Mizi Bernard (Chief of Staff, Delegate J. Sandy Bartlett’s Office), Matthew Connelly (CEO, Good360), Russell Snyder (President & CEO, VOACC), Sharon Jones-Eversley (VOACC Board Chair), Alvin Nichols (VOACC Board Member), Stephen Samuels (Sr. Director of Social Impact Capital, Volunteers of America) and Meshelle Johnson (Constituent Services Representative, Senator Chris Van Hollen’s Office) cut a ceremonial ribbon in front of the Resource Center.
On December 5, 2019, we welcomed over 30 nonprofits to our Resource Center grand opening. A partnership between our organization and Good360, this 12,500 sq ft in-kind donation center is designed to redistribute high-quality household products from major retailers to help nonprofits support those in need.
Our new ‘Hope Has A Home’ program is 
working to alleviate homelessness in DC
Michael Hawkins, one of our Hope Has A Home clients, smiles for the camera.
On any given night in the District of Columbia, there are nearly 7,000 people who are homeless and without shelter. Homelessness increases the risk for serious illnesses. When DC’s homeless experience chronic substance use disorders, mental illness, HIV/AIDS and other chronic health conditions, they are five times more likely to end up in a hospital emergency room. Because they have no where else to go, they often remain hospitalized longer than necessary at a cost of approximately $3,000 per night. 

To help reduce this cost and ensure that our homeless residents obtain the treatment and housing to be healthy and self-sufficient, we launched the ‘Hope Has A Home’ program in partnership with AmeriHealth Caritas.

Learn more about how this innovative program is transforming the lives of those in need like Michael Hawkins.
BB&T Lighthouse Project
BB&T provided resources and employee volunteers to repaint the walls; and install new sofa chairs, couches, tables, shelving, wall decorations, and rugs in the community room at our Eastern Avenue Apartments.
Each year, BB&T associates work with nonprofits to identify and fulfill community service projects that enhance the quality of life for those in need through what is known as the BB&T Lighthouse Project . As part of this initiative, BB&T transformed the community room at our Eastern Avenue Apartments in Seat Pleasant, MD into a comfortable and brightly colored space that all of our low-income residents can now enjoy.
Some good old Holiday cheer at Four Oaks
Our staff, partners and homeless clients ready to enjoy a holiday feast!
The spectacular holiday celebration we threw in December at the Four Oaks Day Service Center in Newport News, VA was one of the most memorable ways for us to close out 2019. There are few things that warm the heart quite like providing the homeless a warm meal and some good cheer. We want to thank the City of Newport News and The Heart of Giving, Inc for helping us pull everything together in support of the homeless clients we serve at the Center.
Happy 1-year anniversary to the 
Four Oaks Day Service Center!
From left to right: Nicholette Smith-Bligen (Dir. of Operations, Virginia Services, VOACC), Gwen McQueeney (VP of Virginia Programs, VOACC), Assist. City Manager Alan Archer, Councilman David Jenkins, Mayor McKinley Price, Vice Mayor Tina L. Vick, Councilwoman Saundra Cherry, City Manager Cindy Rohlf, and City Dir. of Human Services Ven Thomas.
On December 17th, we partnered with the City of Newport News to host a special tree dedication ceremony in celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Four Oaks Day Service Center in Newport News, VA. Approximately 100 people attended including Newport News Mayor McKinley Price and several other key city representatives.

The Four Oaks Day Service Center is a ‘one-stop shop’ that helps people transition out of homelessness into employment, stable housing and independence. In 2019, our staff was proud to support more than 1,200 homeless individuals.
UPCOMING EVENTS
From galas to talent shows, we always have fun ways for you to give back and engage with our staff, board members, clients and partners. Below are just some of the key events we have coming up this year. 

Learn more about our events at www.voaches.org .
VOICE OF FAITH COCKTAIL RECEPTION & FUNDRAISER
This is our annual fundraiser and networking reception in support of our Maryland human services programs. Help those in need while enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, live music by the Kelly Bell Band, a silent auction, and inspiring stories at The Center Club, in Baltimore!
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT COLLOQUIUM: MORAL INJURY CONFERENCE & TRAINING
Join leaders from the faith and philanthropic community for this unique opportunity to learn more about and discuss ways to mitigate the impact of Moral Injury on individuals and communities. 
Thank you for reading this edition of Caring Chronicles! If you would like to provide feedback or have any questions, please contact us at communications@voaches.org .