Volunteers of America

Volunteers of America Responds to Hurricane Gustav

Volunteers of America is on the ground in the Gulf Coast working to ensure that the needs of the people we serve are met in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Following the storm, our clients and staff are safe but we continue to assess the damage suffered by our programs and service facilities in the region. Emergency planning began as soon as Gustav posed a threat last week and evacuation efforts at our service sites in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Lake Charles began Saturday morning. Our most vulnerable clients were moved to safe locations in Tennessee and Texas, and many of our staff members evacuated with the clients they serve in addition to their own families.

The storm may be over but the hard work of recovery has only just begun. Volunteers of America serves more than 150,000 needy residents in the area impacted by Gustav and they still need our help. A transitional housing program near Alexandria, La. suffered major damage and several buildings where we provide programs in the Baton Rouge will require extensive repairs.

Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans serves more than 60,000 people, not counting disaster services provided to more than 166,000 individuals following Hurricane Katrina. The organization serves 16 parishes and provides hundreds of units of affordable housing, a variety of services for the elderly and disabled, and support for those living with HIV and AIDS. Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge serves almost 100,000 people in 19 parishes in central Louisiana by giving shelter to abused and neglected children and youth, support to families, comfort to the elderly and hope to the disabled. Services are still being provided by the organization to 600 of the 75,000 served after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Volunteers of America North Louisiana serves more than 10,000 children and provides nearly 2,500 individuals with community, disability and emergency services.

Although the force of Hurricane Gustav pales in comparison to Hurricane Katrina three years ago, the physical and mental devastation to Louisiana residents is relived in the aftermath of this latest natural disaster – and Volunteers of America is there to help them. Help us help those who need it most! Make a generous donation today.

Welcome to Volunteers of America

Volunteers of America is one the nation's largest and most comprehensive human services organizations, serving more than 2 million people each year, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions. More >

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CNN Features Volunteers of America's Katrina Recovery Efforts on Anniversary Special

Almost three years to the day that Hurricane Katrina made landfall, New Orleans braced for a repeat in the form of Tropical Storm Gustav. Volunteers of America was featured the night of August 29^th on Anderson Cooper's CNN program as part of the network’s coverage of the third anniversary of Katrina.

Earlier this month, CNN interviewed Ricky Murray, a 42-year-old client served by Volunteers of America and the Louisiana Spirit hurricane recovery program. After Katrina, Mr. Murray’s Slidell, La. home was flooded with approximately seven feet of water and he has lived in a trailer in the yard with his wife and three children ever since. He suffered a heart attack following the storm and has not been able to work a steady job to support his family. FEMA notified Mr. Murray that they would pick up his family’s trailer at the end of this month, and the stress now threatens to destroy his marriage.

CNN also interviewed Kay Taylor, a Louisiana Spirit outreach worker with our Greater New Orleans office who has been working with Mr. Murray. Ms. Taylor’s home in Pass Christian was washed away in the storm.

Volunteers of America Organizes Army of 350 to Rebuild Parts of St. Bernard Parish

Volunteers of America, a national leader in supporting communities by providing affordable housing and other social services, dispatched an army of more than 350 volunteers to help rebuild parts of St. Bernard Parish that remain devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The day of service coincided with Volunteers of America’s National Conference June 7-10 in New Orleans and is part of the organization’s long-term commitment to rebuild the Gulf Coast region.

In addition to providing workers, Volunteers of America donated $30,000 in materials, including a new air conditioning unit, to help rebuild the church.

“Our mission for more than a century has been to serve people and communities in vulnerable situations,” said Charles Gould, national president and chief executive officer of Volunteers of America. “Most of the volunteers participating in this day of service are Volunteers of America’s own employees and their families. In our line of work, it is important for us to go out into the community, get our hands dirty and connect personally with those in need. We hope this effort will help us establish stronger bonds with the people we serve every day.” More >

Volunteers of America Applauds President for Authorizing the Second Chance Act - Organization Collaborted with Members of Congress to Advocate Passage of Bill to Help Ex-Offenders

Volunteers of America applauds President Bush for signing into law The Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention. The bipartisan bill was passed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate in early March and by the U.S. House of Representatives last summer.

The Second Chance Act represents a significant improvement on existing federally funded programs for the safe reentry of nearly 700,000 offenders who are released from state and federal prisons each year and return to local communities. The legislation authorizes $362 million to states, local governments and nonprofit organizations that operate programs that help former prisoners find job training, literacy training, substance abuse treatment, counseling and housing. More >

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