Mentoring Children of Promise's Annual Picnic!

On Saturday, October 2, our Mentoring Children of Promise program hosted its annual picnic in Metairie’s Lafreniere Park. The Mentoring program provides adult mentors who offer young people of incarcerated parents support, friendship, reinforcement, and a constructive example. Orleans Parish Sheriff's Marlin Gusman and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand (pictured) were in attendance and handed out Junior Deputy Sheriff Certificates to the mentees at the picnic. Approximately 350 mentees and 350 mentors attended the event, which included snowballs, face painting, a spacewalk, rock climbing, sack races and lots of food. Thanks so much to our mentors, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office, and to Lafreniere Park for hosting the event!

If you'd like to become a mentor to a child with an incarcerated parent, please contact Sherlyn Hughes at 504-836-8700.

Volunteers of America Staff Featured in WWL and Times-Picayune articles

Click here to read a piece from WWL about New Orleans' mental health delivery system post-Katrina, featuring Rebecca Thees, our Coordinator of Disaster Related Services.

Click here to read a piece from the Times-Picayune about mental health issues in post-Katrina New Orleans, also featuring Rebecca Thees.

Retired Senior Volunteer Program Presents Check to St. Tammany Parish

On Saturday, August 21, a check for $1,072,784, representing the value of the service hours performed by members of our Retired Senior Volunteer Program, was presented to the St. Tammany Parish Presidents’ Office. The check was accepted by John Tobin, Director of Social Services for St. Tammany Parish (pictured right of our CEO Jim LeBlanc). The presentation was held during Volunteers of America’s annual St. Tammany Parish Recognition Luncheon, held at the Fleur de Lis Event Center in Mandeville for participants in RSVP. In attendance were Volunteers of America CEO Jim LeBlanc and 164 RSVP Volunteers from across St. Tammany Parish. Dancing, lunch and socializing followed the presentation. Our Retired Senior Volunteer Program offers a variety of service opportunities for volunteers 55 and older to use their skills and life experiences to help meet critical needs across St. Tammany Parish.