On June 10th, Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC) was proud to partner with the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington DC (MCCDC) in the District’s Capital Pride Parade! As the oldest LGBTQIA+ organization in the District, MCCDC has participated in the parade for many years. In alignment with our mission, they are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) through openness, relationships, and love.
Over the past several months, our Ministry Team led by our Chaplain, Rev. Jules Christian, have been fostering new partnerships with faith-based organizations like MCCDC to enhance our collective community impact. This year, our ministry and staff were honored to help the church build their float and march alongside them in the parade!
Check out the festivities and watch our staff and partners share about why supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, and DEI at our places of work and in the community is important to them and our organization.
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LGBTQIA+ individuals face unique challenges, including societal discrimination, prejudice, and the struggle for self-acceptance. These experiences significantly impact mental health, leading to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. However, increased awareness and donor support have emerged to address these issues. Advocacy groups, mental health professionals, and community resources work together to provide inclusive care and promote acceptance. By fostering understanding, creating safe spaces, and offering accessible mental health and other services, we can contribute to the well-being and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Could you or someone you know benefit from inclusive mental health services or HIV prevention and intervention services and support? VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas is proud to highlight our brand-new Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) Program and their efforts to be inclusive.
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The MAI Program helps increase awareness about care for racial and ethnic minority individuals, and LGBTQIA+ individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD) who are also at risk for HIV or are HIV positive who receive HIV related services or treatment.
The program offers bilingual services that include, but are not limited to:
- Testing for HIV & Hepatitis C
- Referrals to treatment & education to reduce risk of infection
- Mental health & substance use recovery support and treatment
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To learn more, visit voachesapeake.org/mai-program or click the button below:
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Juneteenth is a day of recognition, restoration and celebration. June 19th commemorates when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to ensure that all enslaved people were freed. VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas, our National Office and other affiliates across the country joined with our Black communities to celebrate and remember our history while building a stronger, more equitable future together.
Watch our National Office's Executive Vice President of External Affairs, Jatrice Martel Gaiter, explain the history and significance of Juneteenth in the video below!
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Come Kick Off Operation Backpack®! |
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Get ready to launch this year's Operation Backpack® back-to-school drive, VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas' annual campaign to provide vulnerable kids brand-new backpacks, supplies and resources for school uniforms and academic enrichment opportunities!
We're excited to announce that our campaign Kickoff & Outdoor Movie Night featuring "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018) is happening in early July. And we hope to see YOU, your family and friends there!
Fri, July 7 | 6:30PM – 10:30PM
Movie starts at dusk (8:45PM)
Kenhill Community Center
2614 Kenhill Drive | Bowie, MD 20715
FREE POPCORN & MORE!
ENTRY FEE: Bring brand-new backpacks, school supplies OR make a monetary donation when you arrive.
**Space is available on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is required.**
To register, click the button below!
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Can't make it out? You can still change a child's life for the better by giving today! Just $50 provides a vulnerable student the backpack and supplies they need to start the new school year off with confidence. |
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$50
provides a new backpack filled with supplies for a child
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$100
ensures a child has fresh
school uniforms
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$150
provides a child a completed backpack AND school uniforms
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$300
funds summer camp for a child
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Learn about all the way you can get involved with Operation Backpack® this summer by visiting voachesapeake.org/backpack or clicking the button below.
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Make a difference, donate your vehicle! |
Your old vehicle may not mean very much to you anymore, but to us it's a goldmine! It means we can continue to serve more than 10,600 individuals and families every year, ensuring they live in safety with social/emotional wellbeing, spiritual fulfillment, justice and hope.
Don't your vehicle donate by visiting https://voa.careasy.org/home or clicking the button below.
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Volunteers of America Chesapeake
& Carolinas
Maryland, DC & Virginia
4601 Presidents Drive, Suite 300
Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 459-2020
North & South Carolina
207 Commons Blvd
Durham, NC 27704
(800) 646-2828
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©2023 Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas- All Rights Reserved. We are designated tax-exempt under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Your contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law
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