Donor Spotlight: Virginia Peck
As Volunteers of America Mid-States has grown and expanded our reach throughout our five-state service area, our dedicated supporters have been critically important in helping us "go wherever we are needed, and do whatever comes to hand," in the words of our founders Maud and Ballington Booth. Southern Indiana resident Virginia Peck has been one of these generous supporters and a devoted advocate for the veterans, children and families we serve who are facing homelessness and the other challenges caused by the cycle of poverty and addiction.
Virginia learned about Volunteers of America's work while living in East Tennessee. She became more familiar with the services we provide to children and families in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area while working as a Housing and Urban Development and Louisville Metro Government employee. As she learned more about the comprehensive and professional services we offer, Virginia knew she wanted to become more personally involved with Volunteers of America.
"What impressed me as much as anything and encouraged me to get involved as a personal donor and do other things to support the programs, was the fiduciary responsibility that Volunteers of America took very seriously. They were and still are a well-managed and well-run organization. Within the organization, there are a variety of programs that provide a holistic approach to issues at the root causes of homelessness."
As an attendee at the 2013 Power of 1 Breakfast, Virginia heard Freedom House graduate Katie Warren share her story of giving birth to a healthy baby girl and being reunited with her older daughter, Ella. Feeling a personal connection to the struggles that Katie and so many of the individuals we serve face, Virginia decided to join our Positive Change Society giving circle following the event.
"Addiction has no real boundaries – it happens to all families, all income levels - but for such a very long time was something that people were ashamed to talk about," Virginia shared. "My family has had to deal very personally with addiction. We have to be willing to talk about that with one another. Because you never know what someone else is going through. You never know. They may be struggling with the very same issue."
Virginia noted how important and valuable it is that Volunteers of America graduates share their story with the community to let others know that they are not alone in facing the very real challenges of addiction and homelessness, and that solving these complicated issues is much more difficult when people are unwilling or ashamed to talk about their experiences.
Virginia became even more involved with our mission as a Table Host at our inaugural Building Better Communities Luncheon in Jeffersonville, IN last year, helping to provide the support Volunteers of America needed from the community to ensure that we can better serve veterans and families in need in the Southern Indiana area.
"A lot of our issues are regional, and being a resident of Southern Indiana, I am glad to see Volunteers of America's services expanding here," Virginia said.
We are excited to work together with Virginia and our other Southern Indiana supporters again to bring even more energy and excitement to this year's Building Better Communities Luncheon on May 17, 2016 at the Grand in New Albany, IN. If you would like to learn more about our Southern Indiana services and how you can get involved, contact Director of External Relations Rob Dunn at RobD@voamid.org or 502-636-4646.