VOACC's Vision is a commitment to the transformation of the lives of our vulnerable neighbors. And as you will see in this month's newsletter, it doesn't matter their age. We are proud of the people we serve and the employees who serve them. |
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In his own words Zenio (pronounced Zeen-O) admits that his story is “a sad one, but it’s the story of my life.”
Zenio is a resident at our Alexandria Community Shelter in Alexandria, VA.
A former Armor Specialist for the Army, Zenio worked in construction after retiring from service until an injury put him out on disability. Soon afterward, Zenio's wife of 23 years, Elizabeth, passed away in 2019.
A year later when the pandemic hit us all, managing his daily living became
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Zenio pictured with his Case Manager Maria |
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too hard for Zenio to handle on his own. For a while, he was able to get help from his two brothers and nephews who lived in the area. But in February of this year he decided to come to VOACC for help.
“They are helping me do things that I can’t do for myself.”
One of those things that Zenio’s Case Manager Maria is helping with is making sure he is receiving his disability benefits along with his VA benefits. “The VA has been great, but Maria is a guardian angel. She is always looking out for me.”
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Alexandria Community Shelter |
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Thanks to the support Maria has been able to provide, Zenio has received a housing voucher and is now preparing to move into his own place within the next two months.
Zenio plans to stay in Alexandria, where he was born and raised, and hopes to stay in contact with Maria and VOACC.
“All the staff here are great, but Maria is my number one."
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The Alexandria Community Shelter is a 64-bed year round emergency shelter serving men, women, and families by providing housing-focused case management, education training, job training, referral services, and behavioral health treatment services. To learn more, visit us online. |
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Have you seen our Gratitude Report? |
See how YOU helped us make an impact in your community last year!
From our YouthBuild program, Homeless resources, Veteran Care to our Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities services, Beacons of Hope like you are making a difference each and every day in the lives of your most vulnerable neighbors.
Click the button below to take a look at our 2021 Gratitude Report.
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Whitney West has built a career on helping people. With a degree in Social Work, she served as an educational assistant for The Boys & Girls Club, she has worked extensively as a Case Manager, and recently worked as a health assistant. So when she came to VOACC as the new Resident Services Coordinator for our Eastern Avenue Apartments in Seat Pleasant, MD, she knew this would be a good fit.
“I’ve been waiting for a position like this. I’ve been wanting to work with people, plan events and help them succeed.” And when you talk to Whitney, and get a sense of her infectious personality, you can see why she’s excelling.
Eastern Avenue Apartments serves low-income families, seniors, persons with disabilities and veterans. In addition to offering those in need a place to call home, we offer case management and counseling services to establish opportunities for our residents to improve their current situation and work towards self-sufficiency.
And although Whitney is here to help all the residents, it is her after school program for the youth, that has really taken off.
“Residents come to me for assistance with things like transportation or to organize grocery shopping trips, but the kids have really taken advantage of the services we provide.”
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Of the 161 residents we support at Eastern Avenue, 65 of them are youth. Whitney started an after school program for the children ages 5 - 15. She helps them with their homework, engages them in health/wellness activities like meditation or yoga, provides them snacks and then usually ends the day with a life skills, character building or teamwork activity. Whitney invites guests, like local police officers, to come and talk to the kids and holds monthly birthday parties. |
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Some of the children’s parents and local high school volunteers also pitch in. But Whitney sees the need for more volunteers with the growth of the program and her plans for a summer camp. |
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Whitney’s goal is to have two camps this summer, one for the younger kids ages 4 - 10 and one for the older kids ages 10 - 15. The camp will include enrichment activitiesand trips to local attractions like the aquarium.
If you would like to learn more about our Eastern Avenue Apartments, our Resident Services, or even how you can volunteer with our youth, please visit us online.
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Especially within underserved and at-risk communities, the pandemic has only made it more likely for youth to experience anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. The worsening trends in youth mental health are so concerning that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association declared a National Emergency in Children’s Mental Health in 2021.
Recognizing that our young people need us now more than ever, we banded together with the Prince George’s County Department of Health’s Step Forward Program and the Bowie State University Graduate Student Association to host our inaugural Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) Mental Health Expo on Saturday, May 14th.
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“Since the pandemic has been growing, you see an increase in depression and anxiety amongst our young people. And so we see that there is a pandemic within a pandemic.”
Dr. Sheryl Neverson, Vice President of Maryland Programs
Hosted on Bowie State University’s campus, the G.O.A.T. Expo brought
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together youth, families, caregivers, health providers, musical artists and youth advocates to put on an event dedicated to promoting the health and wellbeing of transition aged youth (ages 15 – 24).
A total of 300 people attended the expo, including representatives from exhibiting health providers like our VOA Hope Center, youth and families, and musical artists and youth advocates. We can’t thank the community enough for helping to elevate the need for greater access to care and resources our youth need to overcome trauma and thrive.
To read more about the G.O.A.T. EXPO click the button below.
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It's easier to donate your car to VOACC
then it is to binge watch Season 4 of
Stranger Things.
Pick up is FREE and your donation is tax-deductible.
Click the image or give us a call at 1-833-300-5737
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Operation Backpack® is our initiative to fill in the gap for our region’s most vulnerable children. From now through August 29, 2022, your donations will help us provide backpacks, school supplies, school uniforms, academic enrichment opportunities and more to 2,500 homeless and underprivileged children in Maryland, DC and Virginia.
Together, we can help ensure these children achieve success
despite their circumstances.
Last year, we raised $37,000 and provided 2,000 students backpacks,
supplies and laptops!
Our 2022 Operation Backpack® goal is to raise $40,000 to support even more kids in need. To learn more about how to make an impact, visit www.voachesapeake.org/backpack or click the button below.
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Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
(301) 459-2020 | 7901 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD 20706
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