Dear Friend,

Thanks for taking a moment out of your day to find out about all the amazing things happening with Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas in April. We are coming off of an amazing month where we celebrated our national organization's 125th anniversary. We continue to do the work that our founders began in 1896 and we strive to find new ways to support and serve our region's most vulnerable.
Demarco Grant has a full-time job in construction, a nice apartment and is a proud owner of a new car thanks to his hard work and the support of our Coordinated Entry Program in Durham, NC.

Since October of 2019, VOACC's Coordinated Entry Program has been a valuable resource to those who are homeless or are on the brink of homelessness.

When Demarco first called our Diversion Specialist Case Manager Nicole Lamb in May 2020, Nicole helped place him in a shelter run by the Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD). During his stay at UMD, our dedicated staff continued to support Demarco on his journey to self-sufficiency.
In September, we helped him find a steady job in construction. A month later, we also helped Demarco secure a new place to call home. We were even able to help Demarco with moving costs, and first and last month's rent with funds through our program and the local Department of Social Services.

Now almost a year after receiving support through our program, Demarco is excelling at work and recently purchased a new car. He credits VOACC with his recent success and states he couldn't have done it without us. In his own words, our staff and supporters that make our work possible have been his "angels here on earth."
"This is why we are in this profession – to guide and help show clients the potential they have and what their future can be with hard work and staying on the path."
- Nicole Lamb, Diversion Specialist Case Manager
We are so honored to have the support of fantastic corporate partners like Lockton Companies.

Lockton has been a proud partner and supporter of our work to uplift the most vulnerable in our communities for many years. Lockton’s work focuses on protecting the people, assets, clients, and mission of our organization through risk management and insurance services.

“We stand with VOACC in our commitment to serving and inspiring hope to individuals experiencing homelessness, in need of affordable housing, supportive services, recovering from addictions, veterans needing ministry, those reentering our community, living with mental illness and/or disabilities.” – Lockton Companies.

We value partners who go above and beyond to provide excellent service and advance our mission.
Jenna Kirkpatrick Howard
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Lockton jumped in to provide us plastic face shields to protect our staff and vulnerable clients from the virus. Without the help of Lockton and many others, many of our direct support staff and clients would have been at greater risk of infection.

In addition to in-kind support, Lockton helps to fulfill our mission by sponsoring our fall Harvest for Hope event each year in support of our DC and Virginia programs. Jenna Kirkpatrick Howard, Senior Vice President at Lockton, has also served on our event committee.
"Thank you to Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas for leading this important work in our community! We are thrilled Lockton can support all that you do."
– Jenna Kirkpatrick Howard, Senior Vice President
Give Choose is an annual 24-hour day of giving organized by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, which is located in our Virginia region. This year, Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas was proud to be part of this online fundraiser.

Thanks to amazing supporters like you, we raised $1,231 for the Loudoun Homeless Services Center (LHSC) to help ensure that the less fortunate have a safe place to call home.

To learn more about the LHSC, visit www.voachesapeake.org/lhsc.
Starrlite McLaurin has been with VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas for over 3 years at the Loudoun Homeless Services Center (LHSC) in Virginia. When our new Executive Director for the LHSC Scott Pitts arrived late last year, Starr welcomed his fresh perspective and was excited help enhance the center's service delivery.

Starr spent months working through the LHSC's operations manual to update and implement new ideas that would increase the efficiency and success of staff and households utilizing our services.

On numerous occasions, Starr has gone above and beyond to support the LHSC and the homeless in Loudoun County.
During Loudoun County's most recent Point-in-Time Count, a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, Starr immediately jumped on the opportunity to support the Department of Family Services with their outreach. The annual Point-in-Time Count is critical to understanding the scale of homelessness in a region, and promoting awareness and support efforts to mitigate homelessness.

We are so thankful to have Starr on our team to support Loudoun's homeless and the Department of Family Services shares that sentiment. "Throughout my interactions with Starr, she routinely demonstrates the type of compassion that is truly innate. Starr has an energy that is very calming, compassionate and competent and she is definitely an asset, not just to VOACC, but to the broader Loudoun community." – Jennifer Hope, Continuum of Care Lead, Loudoun County Department of Family Services
"Starr is truly a shining example for all of us as we continue to work hard to assist those in need."
- Scott Pitts, Executive Director, LHSC
VIRTUAL TOURS THIS MONTH
Wednesday, April 28th, 1:00-2:00pm

Tour the Paca House, a 92-unit facility and program helping low-income and homeless adults make positive life changes through permanent housing and supportive services.
Thursday, April 29th, 1:00-2:00pm

Tour our VOA Hope Center, an integrated mental health center and primary care center for adults, youth and veterans struggling with severe mental illness, substance use disorders or co-occuring conditions in Maryland.
Looking ahead to May
Monday, May 3rd, 1:00-2:00pm

Tour our Residential Re-entry Center program, a community re-entry center that helps federal returning citizens effectively transition back into society.
SAVE THE DATE
VOICE of Faith is our largest annual fundraiser in support of our health and human services programs that empower Maryland's most underserved communities. 

“VOICE of Faith” refers to the core values we as an organization embody in our work – Visionary, One Body, Integrity, Compassion, Excellence and Faith.

For the past 20 years, Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas has been working to address widespread homelessness and unemployment in vulnerable communities in the region through the provision of affordable, program-enriched housing and workforce development programming for the homeless, elderly, disabled, veterans and returning citizens.

This year's virtual fundraiser will be held from June 3rd through the 17th and will consist of a wine tasting, a trivia night, and a livestream event. We can't do this great work without you and hope you will join us!
When Maud and her husband Ballington founded Volunteers of America in 1896, they envisioned a movement that would reach and uplift all people. A pioneer in women's rights, nonprofit leadership, and prison reform, Maud serves as an example and reminder of the positive influence one individual can have on millions of others.

In honor of Maud's dedication and commitment to serving those most in need, we invite you to join the Maud Squad, our brand-new monthly giving program. As a member of the Maud Squad, you will ensure that Maud’s work continues today and for another 125+ years through those who carry it.

In addition to changing lives all year long through your commitment, you will get a special bi-annually e-newsletter highlighting our women leaders, consumers, and programs through the lens of Maud’s life. To learn more and join the Maud Squad, click the button below.
Thank you for reading this edition of Caring Chronicles! If you would like to provide feedback or have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].