Dear Friend,

For Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas, June is all about celebrating who we are and what we do.

We honor our employees, celebrate Pride Month and continue our VOICE of Faith campaign to benefit our Maryland programs.

We hope you can join us in these celebrations.
VOICE of Faith is our largest annual fundraiser in support of our health and human services programs that empower Maryland's most under-served 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, VOACC 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.

During COVID-19, those we serve need us now more than ever. YOU can help individuals, families, veterans and returning citizens who have experienced homelessness stay safe, healthy and on a track for success by giving the gift of hope.

The highlight of this year's campaign will be our virtual Livestream event on June 17th. Entry to our event is completely donation-based. Simply choose the donation level you would like to give and enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
We are very excited to have former Baltimore Raven Super Bowl Champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Ed Reed join us for a special Q/A session during the Livestream.

You can purchase tickets and register for our VOICE of Faith Livestream by clicking the button below.
In recognition of Pride Month, our Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, George Lino, pens a letter to his VOACC family.


1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.” God loves all his children equally and how we show love and kindness to others is how our foundational honor of God’s love for us is shown. 
I want to thank you for your service and for each of you being a servant leader. Your efforts and continued support of Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas is evident every day in our Christian Church Without Walls ministries, the faces and hearts of those we serve, and in our working relationships and love we demonstrate through our core values that we have for one another.  

I remember when I arrived in the DC Metro area, in 2018, after spending all of my life in New York City and my starting at VOACC. I remember clearly when I participated in my first donor event. I had completely forgotten that I had my earrings in my ears while sitting at a table with others. I thought it was not appropriate and was going to take them off. But when I looked up, I was immediately reassured by a key leader that differences, my difference, were welcomed and appreciated. I smiled and have kept that memory with me ever since and continue to experience being welcomed by all levels of staff within our affiliate, all other VOA affiliates and the national office. That story made me think about the definitions of Pride. Pride can be boastful in one’s own work, or prideful in one’s own achievement. However, I was reminded by the story that how we see pride defines how we understand one's own dignity and self-worth. 

As we enter into June Pride Month, I am honored to send this message of hope to remind you of the ability to practice authentically showing up for yourself. As a result, your “showing up” will impact others. Remember the events of the past inform our future. Hope, love and all the struggles that have happened and the fight we continue on with, is important and necessary because we are fighting for what is right and just. He is the reason we are brought together to stand, to walk together and most importantly to be on this journey of service together in love. 

Finally, remember that God loves all of us for who we are!!! He has and will continue to make a way for us to be in harmony with one another. We must do our part to remember to love always, be authentic always, and keep the meaning of pride in your hearts to allow us to be our full selves for our families, colleagues and most importantly to honor him with Joy in how we serve each other and those in need…...with Love.   
"Remember who you are
and whom you belong to.”
- George Lino
Each Quarter throughout our Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30) we like to recognize those employees who have exemplified our core values.

We take pride in honoring one staff member in a non-management role and one staff member in a management/leadership role from each of our regions (DC, Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas) who has demonstrated extraordinary efforts in their performance in service of the most vulnerable.

Our 4th Quarter Winners are:
Maryland Region
Employee-
Agnes Johnson
Hope Center Outreach Coordinator

Leader-
Solomon Hejirika
RRC Senior Program Director
Carolinas Region
Employee-
Pamalia Davis
SSVF Benefit Specialist

Leader-
Amanda Bundy
SSVF Team Lead
D.C. Region
Employee-
Kimberly Williams
DCBH Office Manager

Leader-
Kimberly Ngo
DCBH Co-Occurring Therapist/Supervisor
VA Region
Employee-
Makhinohn Walden
YouthBuild Program Specialist

Leader-
Starrlite McLaurin
Loudoun County PSH - Residential Coordinator
Admin Support Units
Employee-
Ebony McDonald
HR Program Partner - VA Regfion

Leader-
Andrew Schofield
Director, Information Systems
HAPPENINGS THIS MONTH
Friday, June 18th, 10:00 AM
We are excited and proud of our second graduating class from our Newport News YouthBuild program.

You can learn more about the program and how to enroll during our next recruitment blitz by visiting us online.
Monday, June 28th, 2PM - 6PM

Learn about our programs and meet the staff. This is an IN-PERSON event at our DC Hope Center located at:
508 Kennedy St. NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20011.

Refreshments will be served.
Operation Backpack® is our initiative to fill in the gap for our region’s most vulnerable children. Your donations help us provide backpacks, school supplies and funding for academic enrichment to more than 2,500 homeless and underprivileged children in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and the Carolinas.

Together, we can help ensure these children achieve success despite their circumstances. This year we will continue to focus on the needs of students during COVID-19.

We're excited to announce that we will be partnering with Brookfield Properties to make our initiative even bigger this year. Our 2021 Operation Backpack® goal is to raise $40,000 to support even more kids in need.

Our campaign will run from July 10th through August 29th. But you don't need to wait until then to make an impact! Make a difference in a child's life in your community by giving today.

To learn more about how you can get involved this year, visit us online at www.voachesapeake.org/backpack.
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].