We are off to a very productive start in 2022.

Our veteran-centered services are making a difference in the lives of those we serve, with programs like our Supportive Services for Veteran Families, Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and our Grant Per Diem Case Management.

And as always, we are successful because of the work and dedication of our staff, volunteers, Board of Directors and supporters like you. This month we highlight some of their work and see why they are called to care.
Thanks to supporters like YOU, the lives of struggling veterans like Finn are changed for the better each an every day. And we just love sharing those stories of transformation.

Here's Finn's story.

I have faced homelessness twice in my life. At 16, I fled an abusive home life and lived alone in a tent until I could enlist in the military. I served in the United States Army Reserves for 8 years. During that time, I obtained my GED, a college degree, and post-graduate degrees. Later, I started my family, and I was living a wonderful life, until tragedy struck in 2012. It was a car accident. Nobody to blame, just a
random accident. I sort of gave up after that for a while...a long while. 

My friends helped me put my life back together in 2016, and I started working again. Then the bottom fell out when the pandemic hit.

My boss passed away, the company closed and I lived off my savings until I could no longer afford to make rent. I was on the verge of homelessness for the second time in my life. 

I have since entered the Volunteers of America’s Veteran Grant Per Diem program in North Carolina. I meet weekly with the VOA Veteran Case Manager, and we are formulating a path forward. My goal is to stabilize my finances, my emotions, and most importantly my mental health.
You make the impossible possible for our nations heroes, ensuring they can live their lives with the dignity they deserve. To help more veterans like Finn out of the grips of homelessness, consider making a gift to our veteran services today!
To learn more about our Veteran Grant Per Diem Case Management program in North Carolina, visit www.voachesapeake.org/gpd-case-management.
In this issue of Caring Chronicles, we are excited to spotlight another one of our awesome Board of Directors, Caleb Jackson. Caleb has been a member of our VOACC Board of Directors since 2019 and has been serving as Co-Vice Chairman since June 2021. However, he has been serving others for a lot longer.

While getting his degree in Political Science and Government from Howard University, Caleb established Operation: Help The People, a Jamaica-based nonprofit that has been promoting community development, education and youth empowerment since 2014 and has supported over 40,000 individuals across Jamaica, Haiti and the U.S.
Today, as founder of Lion Development in Baltimore, Caleb continues to support people in need by developing student-centered housing.

We asked Caleb a few questions:

What about VOACC inspired you first to join the Board of Directors?

"When I was winding down my active role in Operation Help The People, I was looking for an opportunity to serve the community from a different angle. My business coach invited me to Harvest for Hope, and I met Russel Snyder. Russ then asked me to join the Board, and I couldn't refuse. It has been a fulfilling experience. I have two goals in my life, meaningful work and meaningful relationships; VOA allows me to have both."
To read the full article on Caleb, click on one of the buttons below!
Our VP of Human Resources and Administration, George Lino was recently honored for his role as Chairman of the Northern Virginia Coalition of Service Providers’ Peer2Peer Human Resources
(P2P HR) subgroup.
George served in the role for two years and under his leadership, this special interest group has undertaken significant human resource and workforce issues.

His exceptional leadership of the P2P HR subgroup created strong collaboration among its members and service provider organizations.

George worked diligently to address emerging and critical human resources and workforce issues. 
“Sometimes it is not just the work, it's making sure we are doing the work together. This group is relied upon to make sure programs are supported and staffing are encouraged.” - George Lino





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HAPPENING THIS MONTH
On the 1st of February 1865, the American House and Senate passed a joint resolution that would later become the 13th amendment to the constitution of the United States. This amendment effectively outlawing slavery, was signed by Abraham Lincoln.

Major Richard Rober Wright Sr. had been a slave for 9 years at the time that the amendment was signed. After gaining back his freedom, he attended a school for freedmen and went on to become a veteran in the Spanish-American War, a banker, and a teacher. Known and respected as a leader in his community, Major Wright was the one who first advocates for an official day to celebrate the abolishment of slavery.

After creating the National Freedom Day Association, he lobbied in Congress for the recognition of National Freedom Day. The first unofficial celebration took place on February 1, 1942.

However, Major Richard Wright would never see his wish come to fruition, as it wasn’t until 1947, a year after his death, that Congress passed a bill making National Freedom Day an observance. This was signed by President Harry Truman on June 30, 1948.
Black History Month is a time to remember important people and events in the history of the African-American community. This year's theme, assigned by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), is "Black Health and Wellness".
The theme encourages us to take a look at how American healthcare has often underserved the African-American community. As the COVID-19 pandemic has recently shown, a widespread disparity of access to quality healthcare negatively impacts outcomes for people of color and in particular, Black communities. 
 
As we work to promote health equity for all communities, VOACC not only celebrates Black History Month but also honors the theme of Black Health and Wellness for those we serve, our staff, our partners and communities across the nation through the work that we do each day. 
As part of our ongoing Behavioral Health Anti-Stigma campaign, People Like Us, we partnered with The Denny House in Maryland to host an important public webinar on the need for increased health access and culturally competent care for BIPOC communities.

To learn more, visit www.voachesapeake.org/plus-webinars or click the video icon here.
At VOACC we are always trying to keep our stakeholders informed on what's happening in our organization.

If you missed some of our latest videos and podcasts, here's your opportunity to catch up.
Listen to our most recent Vision & Voices Podcast, discussing "Moral Injury" HERE
View "The Wisdom of Healing Through Spiritual Inclusiveness" at our NEW Ministry website HERE
Corporate Year Of Service
If you or your organization is interested in making a lasting impact in the community all-year-round, consider joining our Corporate Year of Service!
 
To learn more, visit www.voachesapeake.org/yearofservice.