Stories

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 –…

VOADV’s footprint is significant – 3 states, 16 counties, many townships and over 10,000 individuals. While our staff’s dedication and knowledge make it possible to provide essential services to our area’s most vulnerable individuals, our partnerships and supporters also play a substantial role in what we are able to do. One new relationship that we are exciting about growing is with the Edgewater Park Elks Lodge #2550. The members of this Lodge recently presented our CEO Dan Lombardo and Director of Philanthropic Giving Alexis Degan with a donation thanks to their Holman Automative 6th Annual Ride For The Troops. This generous donation…

VOADV recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Centerton Village, their newest affordable housing community located on Centerton Road in Mount Laurel. A group of local elected officials joined representatives from VOADV and project partners to mark the completion of their newest affordable housing community in the region. Centerton Village is a 103-unit affordable housing community at the intersection of Centerton Road and Marne Highway. Housed in two four-story buildings are beautifully designed income-restricted apartments, featuring full kitchens, living and dining areas, full baths, large bedrooms and energy efficient appliances. The community also features a variety of…

This past month we launched our newest Navigational Resource Center to provide residents of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties with a variety of direct, essential social services. Through a partnership with Hopeloft, our Tri-County Navigational Resource Center will provide greater access to critical social services for vulnerable populations that were previously underserved or forced to travel to neighboring counties for similar services. “With this new, centralized office location in Bridgeton, residents in need of services have a local resource to access the personalized support and professional guidance they require,” said Amanda Leese, SVP of Safe Return/Navigator Programs for VOADV. “By strategically…

During the past year, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley witnessed firsthand the many challenges and struggles facing mothers and families. VOADV client Latasha Kendrick is one example. As a single mother of three, Ms. Kendrick was forced to choose between maintaining a job she loves and caring for her children when they transitioned to remote learning once the pandemic hit. However, despite the hardships, we’ve also seen incredible strength, perseverance and extraordinary dedication as individuals tackled the pandemic head-on. VOADV operates three shelters specifically designed for women, families and children – Anna Sample Complex in Camden County, Eleanor Corbett House in Gloucester County and Agape House in Somerset…

Since the inception of Volunteers of America 125 years ago, our mission has been to go wherever is needed and do whatever is needed to serve. Keeping that promise throughout decades of history has required a singular focus – the people that we serve. Our dedication to caring for the most vulnerable is clearly defined in VOA’s mission statement that declares that our success is measured in the positive change in the lives of individuals and communities we serve. But who is helping to make that change? How are so many lives impacted? Volunteers of America Delaware Valley relies on…

VOADV has 40 high quality outcome-driven programs providing essential services across the Delaware Valley. However, for an organization founded on the ideal of going wherever is needed and doing whatever is needed to serve, expansions and partnerships are crucial to helping us provide diverse programs and specialized assistance to our communities’ most vulnerable populations. Through collaborations with other organizations, agencies, law enforcement and more, we are able to identify needs for services as they arise in the community, and work together with our partners to develop a plan to assist. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate the opioid epidemic…

125 years ago, the United States was a very different place. The year was 1896. Utah had just been admitted as the 45th U.S. state. William McKinley would win the year’s Presidential election. The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson was in full swing, defining “separate but equal” to uphold racial segregation. The Dow Jones stock market index and the first ever Ford vehicle were both created. In the midst of these monumental events in our nation’s history, on March 8, 1896 in the Great Hall of New York’s Coopers Union, Volunteers of America was founded by a fearless husband and wife duo,…