David's Story

David is a resident of our Veterans' Transitional Housing program, which helps homeless veterans rebuild their lives by providing housing, job training, support services and more. Originally from Chicago, he moved to New Orleans in the early 80's after serving in the military.

David struggled with alcoholism, addiction, and homelessness; he was displaced to Arkansas after Katrina and moved back to Chicago, where he was beset with many problems. David returned to New Orleans and in July of 2009 began living at our veterans' facility. He's noted that Volunteers of America has "helped him tremendously" and he's now on his way to earning a degree in culinary arts at Delgado Community College. "Volunteers of America saved me and got my mind right", says David, who cites that he's now more proactive and better equipped to take care of himself since receiving services from us.

Click here to watch David's testimonial.

New Year's Safety Tips

Please consider these New Years' Safety tips when going out this New Years' Eve. These are courtesy of John Longoria, Program Manager of our Family Resource Center, which provides services to families and children who have been identified as at risk by various collaborative state agencies.

New Years’ Eve is a huge night for everyone—crowds will be swarming toward all the metropolitan hubs around the world. People feed off each others' excitement, and sometimes things can get out of hand if safety precautions are not taken. Everyone wants to have an unforgettable night (in a good way!). By simply using some common sense, we can keep it that way. Ring in the New Year safely!

· Designate a Driver: If you are going to be driving New Years’ Eve, don't drink and drive. If you have a friend who prefers not to drink, make sure they take the wheel. You might even be on the water this New Years Eve. The person in charge of navigating the boat needs to be cautious - this still applies to them! It is important to be safe on the water as well, so drink sensibly.

· Don't forget about your pets! They are just as much a part of the family as everyone else. If you are using fireworks, anything with loud noises, or fire, be sure that pets are kept at a distance as well as children. None of these are a good mix. There may be some children and/or pets that are extremely frightened by fireworks. If so, make sure they have a “safe-place” to go. Candles are also a potential hazard.

· Be Alert: Be aware of your surroundings and how others are acting. Stay away from those who are out of control and might cause harm. Taking preventive measures is key. If someone is really intoxicated, prevent them from trying to drive or leaving with someone they do not know. It's important to keep an eye out for each other.

· Don't Drive: If you don't have to go behind the wheel, avoid it. More people will be driving under the influence on this particular night, so avoid a potentially dangerous accident by staying off the road. Otherwise, be alert and drive defensively. Most importantly, wear your seatbelt! Also, using public transportation is a wise option. If taking a cab is too expensive, crashing at a friend's place nearby is a convenient solution.

· Stick Together: This way we can look out for our friends and family. Going out to parties and nightclubs means a fast-paced, crazy night; so be sure to travel in groups. Having a safety net around you in this environment, especially for women, is imperative.

· Monitor your Alcohol Intake: A majority of people will be drinking on New Years Eve, and there is nothing wrong with that. Just be sure to pay attention to how much you and others are consuming. Drinking too much alcohol can have lethal affects. Be responsible. Also, drinking on an empty stomach significantly increases the effects of alcohol.

· Fireworks – If fireworks are legal in your community and you decide to partake, make sure that directions for use are followed directly. Do not use fireworks in any manner that may pose a threat to others or to others’ property. Children should not be using fireworks, but if they are, this should be done ONLY under the supervision of a responsible adult.

· Gunfire – UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, regardless whether you are in an urban or rural setting, is it appropriate to shoot any kind of weapon in the air or at any other target – especially since it is likely that alcohol or other mood inhibiting substances are being used.

Ronald's Story

Meet Ronald, a resident of our Canal Street Single Room Occupancy facility. Ronald is a Northshore native and son of a successful restaurateur there. He led a straightforward life in his youth as a member of the Navy Hospital Corps during the Vietnam War. While with the Navy Hospital Corps, Ronald served as a surgical medic, lab scientist, and worked in emergency search and rescue.

Upon returning from Vietnam, Ronald developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and began drinking as a result of his anxiety and depression. He attempted to maintain his career, working 5 years after his return from the service, but after a car wreck he moved home and began drinking on and off, “always at the wrong time”.

“The story of my life is caring for others”, says Ronald, and he’s cared for both of his parents as they entered their senior years. Following the death of his father, who he was helping his mother to care for, he began drinking chronically, leaving his job.

Ronald struggled with his alcohol addiction until April of 2005, when at the behest of his sister in law he began receiving treatment. The storm interrupted his treatment, and he evacuated to Omaha; when he was finished, he was connected with our Duvernay Residence, which offers permanent affordable housing, case management, and employment services for formerly homeless people in recovery.

Ronald just celebrated his fourth anniversary at Duvernay. He says of his experiences there – “I’m excited to be at Duvernay. It’s very welcoming and has helped me become self-sufficient”.

For his future, Ronald wants to continue to be more self-sufficient, help others, take inventory of himself, plan for life, and find a part-time retirement job for supplemental income.

We are proud to have individuals like Ronald among those we serve.

Edmund's Story

(This is a speech given by Edmund, who receives services from our Supported Living Services program. Supported Living Services helps persons with disabilities to live independently).

My name is Edmund and I am 64 years old. I was born and raised right here in New Orleans.

I lived with my mother for most of my life. When my mother passed away, I needed help. I needed transportation to buy food and I needed help to do that. I needed someone to get me to the doctor for my appointments. I needed someone to help me buy clothes. I needed a place to live. I found Volunteers of America.

That was fifteen years ago. I first lived in one of Volunteers of America’s Community Homes. It was nice there. They cooked for us, cleaned for us and provided me with transportation everywhere I needed to go.

After a while, I wanted to live in my own apartment, so the staff at Volunteers of America helped me. I found a nice apartment in Metairie and I really liked it....but when Hurricane Katrina hit, my apartment was flooded.

Volunteers of America helped me find another apartment. This apartment is really nice - it's also in Metairie.

Felicia, my personal care assistant with Volunteers of America, stays with me on Saturday and Sunday. Nikida stays with me from 7 at night until 7 in the morning.

Paul is with me from 7 in the morning until 7 at night. Paul is really more like family to me. We go to Barnes and Noble, lunch at Applebees (I like their hamburgers), and the Metairie Senior Center to play cards. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have Volunteers of America….or Paul. I love Paul like a brother.

I like to read. I have a subscription to Sports Illustrated. The Saints, of course, are my favorite football team, but my favorite quarterback is Big Ben with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sorry, Drew!

I am a happy man and I have a good life. Thanks to Volunteers of America, I am able to live independently in my own apartment. And I am blessed to have great people help me to do that. I’m proud of who I am and I am proud to stand here and tell you about my life and how Volunteers of America has helped me.

Thank you for coming tonight and thank you for supporting Volunteers of America. It's because of people like you that I am able to stand here and talk about how blessed I am.

May God Bless You All.

Christmas at Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans

Check out our Spirit of Giving PSAs featuring President/CEO Jim LeBlanc and Charmaine Neville! These will be airing on WWL throughout the holiday season.

The Spirit of Giving is Volunteers of America’s holiday campaign to support our Adoption, Mentoring Children of Promise, Lighthouse After School, Community Homes, and Family Resource Center programs.

In addition, we are still seeking donations for our consumers for Christmas. Consider including one of our consumers in your shopping plans on Black Friday. One wrapped gift of $25 or under is a small but significant way to show someone like Larry (pictured), a resident of our Veterans Transitional Housing, you care. To give, call Dan Darbandi @ (504) 486-8695 or e-mail ddarbandi@voagno.org.

Veterans' Transitional Housing Honors Veterans

On Veterans' Day, our Veterans' Transitional Housing program showed their support for our veterans with a celebration at our Napoleon Avenue facility. Vets were treated to a lunch and a ceremony featuring membersof the United States Marines Band. Gifts were given out to residents ofthe facility. Pictured is Veterans' Program Director Randolph Macabitas briefing WWL-TV's Jill Hezeau on the many services provided to veterans by Volunteers of America.

Our Veterans' Transitional Housing program helps homeless veterans rebuild their lives by providing housing, job training, support services, and more.

Adoption Services' Carousel Party

It's National Adoption Month and our Adoption Services department held its annual Carousel Party on the 6th. Check out WWL's coverage of the event to learn more about the event.

Our Adoption Services department creates loving families through adoption and serves birth parents and adoptive parents with counseling, support groups, and community education.

For more information on the program, click here.

Elysian Courtyards Grand Opening

On October 5, Elysian Courtyards of Gentilly, a new Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation housing initiative in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, held its grand opening. Formerly known as Chateau Carre, Elysian Courtyards is located in Gentilly and is functional for the first time since it flooded after Hurricane Katrina. It consists of 150 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Pictured from left are Dr. Albert Ruesga, President/CEO, Greater New Orleans Foundation; Charles Rice, Jr., President/CEO, Entergy New Orleans, Inc.; our President/CEO Jim LeBlanc; Kurt Maloney, our Board Chair; Robin Keegan, Executive Director, La. Office of Community Development; Nick Harris, Dillard University; Mike King, President/CEO, Volunteers of America, Inc; Victor Smeltz, Executive Director, Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corp.; New Orleans City Councilmember Cynthia Hedge Morrell; State Sen. Edwin Murray; Barbara Blackwell, Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association; Steve Hemperly, Greater New Orleans Marketing President, Capital One Bank, and Melissa Persaud, Director, Major League Baseball Players Trust.

New Veterans' Services Director

A big welcome to our new Veterans' Services Director, Mr. Randolph Macabitas. Randolph comes to us after a distinguished career in the United States military, serving in various capacities. Welcome to Volunteers of America, Randolph!

Veterans Honored

On Monday, October 11, two residents of our Veteran’s Transitional Housing, Mssrs. Mark Ford and Larry Noble (pictured), received awards at a ceremony hosted by the State of Louisiana’s Veterans’ Affairs department. In attendance at the event was Gov. Bobby Jindal, who spoke and handed out awards to veterans.

Our Veterans Transitional Housing helps homeless veterans rebuild their lives by providing housing, job training, support services, and more.

Congratulations Mark and Larry, and thank you for your service to our country!

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.

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Leslie Mitchell, a volunteer in our Training program. Leslie has been volunteering for Lorraine Pitts, head of the Training department, since December when the program was re-started for the first time following Hurricane Katrina.

“I don’t like sitting at home-that’s why I’m a volunteer” she says, and she’s certainly kept very busy in the past. Leslie was an employee of Bell South for 35 years, where she was one of the first African-American women to achieve a high-ranking position in the company. Following her retirement in 2002, she cared for her granddaughter; when her granddaughter was ready to go to school, she decided to seek out volunteer opportunities. She learned about Volunteers of America through our voagno.org website, where she was matched to the Training department based on her abilities and interests.

She reports that the work she does for Volunteers of America is “thoroughly different” than her work at Bell South – “more relaxing”. Her duties include, but aren’t limited to, preparing training materials and grading tests for employees undergoing training.

“Leslie helps me to free up time to develop new classes”, says Lorraine Pitts. Prior to Katrina, her department comprised 3 people; now, with Leslie’s help, she’s working towards rebuilding capacity. Lorraine’s current programs include defensive driving, CPR, Crisis Intervention, and Health & Safety. Trainees’ curriculum is based on their position.

Of her volunteer experiences at Volunteers of America, Leslie says, “I enjoy being able to give back & keep my mind going…I like the people I work with”. How long does she plan on sticking with us? “Until Lorraine throws me out!”

Duvernay Resident on the Right Path

Meet Donald Latuso (pictured), who lives at our Duvernay Residence, part of our Single Room Occupancy program. SRO offers permanent affordable housing, case management & employment services for formerly homeless people in recovery. Donald struggled with drug usage and homelessness for many years - in his words, "whenever I'm ...addicted, I'm homeless".


After receiving treatment, it was Donald's goal to live at the Duvernay Residence, a goal he has now realized for the past 10 months. He's made great positive changes in his life - now clean for 13 months, he's enjoying the company of his formerly estranged son and wife again and has big plans to earn his G.E.D. and open a business someday. We're proud of Donald's recovery...he's another example of the success stories created every day at Volunteers of America.

Conquer & Succeed....A Duvernay Resident's Success Story

"Volunteers of America put the life back in me" says Louis Brown (pictured), an Uptown New Orleans native who lives at our Duvernay Residence, part of our Single Room Occupancy program. SRO offers permanent affordable housing, case management, & employment services for formerly homeless people in recovery.

Louis struggled with homelessness and addiction after returning home in 2008. Turned away by other agencies, he began attending meetings at Duvernay, and, inspired by what he observed, decided to get clean so he could move in. The Volunteers of America family opened their hearts and doors to Louis, and he's been a resident of Duvernay for over a year.

Louis is now gainfully employed and working towards his engineer's license. He recommends anyone to Volunteers of America if they're serious about recovery. "Volunteers of America helped me to grow into being a man....I've learned independence and I live the lessons Volunteers of America teaches".

Louis is an inspiration to anyone and everyone with the desire to conquer their addictions and live a healthy, positive life.

New Job Opening

North Shore Services Case Manager – Supportive Housing and Mental Health. BA/BS in Human Services required + minimum of 1 year experience.

Please send resumes to: careers@voagno.org.

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.

Commemorating Katrina: Five Years Later

Read Volunteers of America's report of our remarkable recovery from the losses of the storm. We have thousands of helpful friends to thank and much gratitude for our progress.

You can also watch Higher Ground, a video about the dedication of Direct Support Professionals during and after the storm, and a video detailing the destruction the storm caused to our facilities and city.

Repairs on Wheels Consumer Gets Mobile

Meet Mr. Fred Harper (pictured), who recently received services from our Repairs on Wheels program. Mr. Harper is a 75 year old New Orleans native confined to a wheelchair and has scant left his Mid-City home in the past twelve years. During Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Harper was evacuated to Alexandria, where he spent three months living in a hospital. Mr. Harper enjoys art, music & books, but had no way to leave his house to enjoy them. He sought help and was referred to Volunteers of America. Our Repairs on Wheels program, which provides minor home repairs to senior home owners in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany and St. Charles, was able to fit his house with a ramp. Now, Mr. Harper can scoot safely out of his home with his new motorized wheelchair. “I now have the mobility to get outta here”, he says. Thanks to contributions from Home Depot, Lowe’s, & the Easter Seal Foundation, the cost of the ramp was only $265, a small price to pay for freedom.

Lighthouse Play Featured on WGNO!

Volunteers of America’s Lighthouse Program was recently showcased on WGNO. Some of the students participated in a performance of “The Wiz”, which ran from 7/31-8/1 at Dillard University. WGNO’s Chriss Knight covered the event for her morning news segment. Check out this video to see our Lighthouse kids talk about putting together the play.

The Lighthouse After School program provides after school and summer programs for pre-adolescent children and their families to promote academic achievement and good moral character.

Special Supporters & Fox 8 Film PSA for Mentoring Children of Promise Program

Watch our new Mentoring Children of Promise commercial starring Mandy and Zach Strief (Black and Gold #64), pictured! Our Mentoring Children of Promise program provides adult mentors who offer young people with incarcerated parents support, friendship, reinforcement, and a constructive example. We're currently seeking mentors...for more information, contact Sherlyn Hughes, Program Coordinator, at 504-836-8700, or shughes@voagno.org.