Volunteers of America issues
Anniversary Challenge
Volunteers of America Celebrates Its 110th Anniversary
by Remembering Some of Its Extraordinary Volunteers and
by Encouraging All Americans to Volunteer
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb.
15 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 8, Volunteers of America,
one of the largest non-profit providers of social
services in the country, marks a milestone. The
organization will celebrate 110 years of service. In
honor of its anniversary, the organization is
challenging every American to volunteer 110 hours each
year to help the neediest people in their communities.
"Whether people
volunteer with us or at their school, church, hospital,
or civic organization, they will find that the rewards
of helping less fortunate people are greater than they
can imagine," said Volunteers of America National
President Charles Gould.
Volunteers of America
works with approximately 95,000 volunteers each year to
assist with its programs. This year has been especially
challenging and rewarding for volunteers who helped
assist victims of Hurricane Katrina.
"It changed my life,"
said Debbie Diroff. "I would do it again in a second."
Diroff was a retired
employee from Florida Power in Tampa when she drove to
her sister's house in Mobile, Ala. shortly after
Hurricane Katrina hit to see if she could help.
She
ended up spending 31 days working as the coordinator to
Volunteers of America's temporary medical clinic in
Gulfport, Miss. Diroff scheduled doctors and patients
and gathered medical supplies for the clinics which were
nothing more than construction trailers that acted as
medial offices and surgical bays during the day and
housing for doctors at night.
"The experience taught
me how lucky I am to have what I have," said Diroff. "It
was so rewarding to be able to help people who have
nothing."
It may be a once in a
lifetime opportunity to help during a national crisis,
but it is the volunteers who help with programs all year
round who provide critical support to the organization.
Cathy Law of Denver,
Colo. was sitting in church looking at the bulletin 17
years ago when she saw that help was needed for a
Volunteers of America Meals on Wheels program. She began
to deliver meals to seniors twice a week. After her
first child came along, she took him with her and she
even got her mother, Babs, working a delivery route.
Today three generations of the family, including
children Cody (16), Caleb (13), Callie (11), and Conner
(11), deliver meals to seniors.
"This has been an
amazing experience. It has given my family the gift of
knowledge," said Law. "I am so thankful that my children
have gotten to know so many amazing people over the
years."
Clients on Law's
seniors' meals route have included a former professional
baseball player, a prominent architect, and a concert
pianist.
"Not all the clients
are in a good mood and want to chat every time I deliver
food. They have good days and bad days and that's life,"
said Law. "But I am so happy this program exists so that
people are able to stay in their homes."
Last year, Volunteers
of America helped nearly 2 million people to improve
their lives through programs which provide affordable
and emergency housing, assisted living, help for at-risk
kids and substance abusers, education programs, and
counseling. The organization has a staff of 15,000
located in 38 affiliates across the country.
"We are very lucky to
do the work we do," said Gould. "The lives of our staff
members and volunteers are constantly enriched by
helping others, and we look forward to our next 110
years of service."
Log on to the
Volunteers of America web site
http://www.volunteersofamerica.org/ to find
out how to help or to find out more about the rewards of
volunteering.
Volunteers of America
is a national, nonprofit, spiritually based organization
providing local human service programs and opportunities
for individual and community involvement. Volunteers of
America served more nearly 2 million people last year.
For more than 100 years, Volunteers of America has
provided help for at-risk youth, abused and neglected
children, homeless individuals and families, seniors and
the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Source:
Volunteers of America