A letter from Jennifer
Dear Friend:
This is a busy time for Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA). The long days and warmer weather are perfect for summer projects, and ours are moving along quite well.
Construction is progressing at our Community Care Campus, which will provide a central space for people experiencing homelessness to access shelter, medical care, and other services. VOA’s Monarch Station housing development is also taking shape and eventually will provide a combination of traditional affordable housing and permanent supportive housing. VOA’s Freedom House, our residential treatment program for pregnant and parenting women experiencing substance use disorder, continues to grow in several Kentucky communities.
In this issue of Inspire, we talk about progress, thank some individuals for their hard work, and celebrate kids and families as a new school year approaches.
Every new school year is a fresh chapter, and a new opportunity for growth, learning and community.
Helping kids thrive is a big part of what we do here at VOA. We know that even the small things – like school supplies or a new backpack – can equip them for success. Every child deserves to walk into school feeling confident, supported, and ready to succeed.
You will see that spirit in these photos, as families prepare to celebrate every win the new school year will bring.
Your generosity and support are helping children take big steps toward their future, and I want to share my heartfelt thanks. This work would not be possible without you.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hancock, President and CEO
Our kids are preparing for the school year
With your support, last summer VOA assisted nearly 300 children in need.
This year, help kids like Isaiah start 1st grade with new school uniforms, shoes and supplies.
Sarah and her family live at VOA’s Freedom House in Manchester, KY.
She is 11 years old and looking forward to starting 6th grade in August.
Isaiah and his family live at VOA’s Unity House in Louisville, KY.
He is 6 years old and looking forward to starting 1st grade in August.
Ways you can support our Back to School Campaign
- Make a tax-deductible contribution HERE
- Donate gift cards for school uniforms, shoes, supplies, and other specific classroom needs like calculators
- Organize a collection drive at your place of employment, civic group or place of worship
- Volunteer to offer supportive services to our children
News Briefs
TENNESSEE WEEKEND OF CHAMPIONS
Our 16th annual Weekend of Champions in Nashville, Tennessee, was a tremendous success!
We gathered with our amazing community partners and supporters at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center to celebrate VOA’s life-changing programs in Tennessee.
NBA legend Larry Bird was our guest speaker, and the audience loved listening to him talk about his playing days, his favorite teammates, and his most memorable wins and losses. Emcee Joe Dubin, ESPN talk show host0, led the lively conversation. At the end of their Q&A session, Larry signed a pair of jerseys that were then auctioned off to a raucous crowd.
The dinner also included live entertainment, remarks from VOA leaders and friends, and a silent and live auction. The evening concluded with a tribute to John Jennings, a longtime VOA supporter and volunteer who passed away earlier in the year. His family came to the stage to receive the VOA Mid-States Volunteer of the Year award and learn that it would hereafter be named after John.
Early the next day, the golf tournament kicked off at the beautiful Hermitage Golf Course with almost 400 players in two rounds.
We are immensely grateful to our sponsors: Lasater’s Coffee & Tea, Venture Express Inc., Accelerated Services, Nissan and other incredible partners who made this event possible.
KNOXVILLE SALUTE TO VETERANS DINNER
Thanks to the nearly 300 community partners and supporters who gathered at our Salute to Veterans Dinner in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Together, we raised money to support our mission and solve some of the most complex challenges facing veterans in East Tennessee.
Special thanks to “Voice of the Vols” Bob Kesling for emceeing the event, auctioneer Bear Stevenson for enlivening the crowd, and Pastor Chris Edmonds for telling the remarkable story of his father, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, who was a selfless hero in World War II.
Community Care Campus
WHERE HOPE AND HEALING BEGIN
Construction is progressing on VOA’s Community Care Campus, where we will provide a central space for people experiencing homelessness to access services.
- Medical respite building: This space will provide care for people too ill to recover on the streets but not sick enough to be hospitalized. We plan to break ground by the end of the year.
- Affordable housing: We have identified a development partner.
- Transitional housing: The existing temporary shelter will be repurposed for YMCA transitional housing to support 18 – 24 year olds.
- VOA headquarters and partner space: The design is completed, and the bidding process will be completed soon.
- Unity House Family Emergency Shelter: The interior of the building has been demolished in advance of interior construction.
- Community center: VOA is currently evaluating additional options for this building. We plan transitional housing in the rear of the building for women and their children as they graduate addiction recovery programs. The front of the building may be renovated into additional transitional housing or other needed programs. More info to come.
Thank you to our generous supporters
- Anonymous
- AT&T
- Caudill Seed Company
- KY General Assembly
- Gheens Foundation
- Humana Foundation
- Louisville Metro Government
- PNC Foundation
- Bob and Susan Means
Unity House Transformed to Serve the Community Even Better
VOA’s family emergency shelter, Unity House, is celebrating 41 years of service this year and was recently renovated to better accommodate the 75 families served annually.
VOA is now able to provide a new room with wheelchair accessibility, laundry room, veterans kitchen, staff offices, bathroom, breakroom, updated security system, and roof. In addition, new windows, a front ramp, and new flooring have been installed throughout the first level. We’ve also added fire-safety features, including fire suppression and an alarm system.
We thank our partners Miranda Construction, SNDBX Design, and Coupe Construction for their expert assistance.
VOA Voices
Mike Lannon, Legal Counsel VOA Board of Directors
Mike Lannon has been with VOA for 40 years, serving as a Board member, Board Chair and General Counsel. He credits that long tenure to VOA’s mission and sense of purpose. “I like helping people and working with people,” he said. “I studied to be a priest at one time in my life, so the idea of serving people is important. This work is meaningful and honorable, and I’m proud of my association with VOA. It’s a professionally run organization of dedicated people who want to help others help themselves. I’m inspired by the dedication of the staff and Board members and the way they bring self-sufficiency to the clients.”
Dr. Jackie Pair, VOA Tennessee Council Member and Psychologist at VA Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee
Dr. Pair is a leader for VOA in Nashville, serving the needs of people with disabilities and our neighbors who are unhoused. She helped organize VOA’s “Hope for the Homeless” campaign, which has become an annual event where Tennessee team members distribute food, clothing, and toiletries to Nashville’s homeless population. A U.S. Army veteran who works at the VA, she sees VOA as vital to her commitment to help others. “As a Psychologist I always put the person before the impairment or their circumstance. Working with VOA is a natural extension for me to help even more people in the community. VOA enriches my heart and my soul! I truly believe that ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’” Luke 12:48
Martin Beech, VOA Tennessee Council Member and Client Executive with NetApp in Nashville, Tennessee
“Supporting Volunteers of America Mid-States is personal to me, given the mission to uplift vulnerable populations, especially veterans. With both grandfathers in World War II, my father-in-law, a former Army Sergeant Major, and my 18-year-old son heading to United States Marine Corps basic training on Parris Island on June 10 of this year, veterans’ well-being is deeply significant. VOA Mid-States’ programs, like Vet to Vet Tennessee and Maud Booth Gardens, provide vital support for veterans and seniors, fostering stable, inclusive communities that align with my values of collaboration and impact.”
300 Children are counting on us
Many of the children VOA serves have recently experienced homelessness, lived in a family vehicle, or faced other unsafe and unstable situations. With your help, we ensure they have what they need on the first day of school and throughout the year.
Kei-Marieon and his family live at VOA’s Unity House on the Community Care Campus in Louisville. He is looking forward to starting 8th grade in August, and he loves math!
HERE TO HELP. IT’S JUST WHAT WE DO.
Please join VOA in ending the cycle of addiction in the lives of mothers and their newborns, supporting families experiencing homelessness, and keeping young people out of the criminal justice system.
To find out more about this exciting campaign, reach out to our Senior Director of Fund Development:
Amy Olson at AmyO@voamid.org or call (502) 636-4633.
