Visions Newsletter Fall 2022

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Honoring Our Veterans Is A Priority

When Craig graduated from high school, he new his future was to join the U.S. Army and serve his country. He always imagined being a part of something bigger and the U.S. Army was his destiny.

Craig was injured during a training incident during his second deployment to Afghanistan. After several surgeries and months of physical therapy to learn to walk again, Craig was able to rejoin his team. Soon after his return to Afghanistan, Craig was shot in his shoulder by a sniper during his third deployment.

After more than 15 surgeries, three fusions, and a bone graph, Craig was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. These injuries make the simplest things very difficult for Craig. He has challenges walking stairs, getting in and out of the shower as well as the tub, and moving around his property.

The Veterans Administration referred Craig to Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana. The staff met with Craig and determined that we could help make his life a little easier. Volunteers of America’s construction crew began renovations to install grab bars in his bathroom and erected several ramps throughout his property.

Around the same time as the repairs were completed on Craig’s home, we began working with the trustees of the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust to develop a life-changing program for disabled veterans. From these conversations came the “Disabled Veterans Mortgage Assistance Program,” supported by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. This program will provide at least one eligible disabled veteran with transformative financial assistance in the form of paying off their mortgage. This program will identify, screen, and select an eligible individual to receive assistance.

Congratulations to Craig, who was the first recipient to receive a mortgage pay-off. We are thankful to the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust for its support through the years, and we are thankful to donors like you who are making sure that veterans like Craig are never forgotten.

“Help the people who have helped you,” said Craig. “Don’t forget about the ones that sacrificed everything for the life that you live now.”

Without proper social support after discharge, the risk of going homeless is extremely high among veterans. They account for 11% of homeless adults in the US.

FALL 2022 VETERAN MORTGAGE PROGRAM

Thank You for Supporting the People of Southeast Louisiana

Fall is officially here, and we have been blessed with a mild hurricane season thus far. I hope that we all have a chance to catch our breath and continue to repair from last year’s storms.

As you know, Volunteers of America’s mission is to help our most vulnerable population, and we have been doing that in southeast Louisiana for over 126 years. Your support allows us to create hope for those who need it most, provide stability in an unstable time, and be a voice for those that need it most.

Our programs, designed to help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities maintain their independence and grow to their fullest potential, have been a beacon of hope to many in our community. Inside this issue, you will learn about Layla and her relationship with her caregiver, Naomi.

In November, we will honor our Veterans, the men, and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom. I’m excited to work with the Oscar J. Tomas Charitable Trust Fund to launch the “Disabled Veterans Mortgage Assistance Program.” Craig is the first recipient of this beautiful program, and we hope more veterans receive assistance moving forward.

Your support makes a big difference in our community, and I want to say “thank you” for always being a supporter of our mission. It was great seeing so many of you at our 30th annual GolfStar tournament, which benefits the Adoption and Maternity program. It was wonderful to share adoption stories with the 200+ people in attendance. Your support and the support of all our sponsors reaffirm that we are doing God’s work here on earth.

Thank you for all you do for Volunteers of America, and I am grateful for your support.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tod Smith Chair

S. Chuck Viator Chair-Elect

Stephen C. Schrempp Treasurer

Rupa Jolly, DDS Secretary

Christy Howley Connois Immediate Past Chair

Louis Colin, Sr. Thomas J. McGoey, II Victoria Adams Phipps Charique L. Richardson

Christy N. Ross Lynn E. Swanson Michelle Treschwig, CPA David P. Vicknair

Voris R. Vigee President & CEO

MISSION

Volunteers of America is a movement organized to reach and uplift all people and bring them to the knowledge and active service of God. Volunteers of America, illustrating the presence of God through all that we do, serves people and communities in need and creates opportunities for people to experience the joy of serving others. Volunteers of America measures its success in positive change in the lives of individuals and communities we serve.

PRESIDENT & CEO MESSAGE Voris R. Vigee
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Helping Layla Find Calm In The Storm

When Hurricane Ida threatened last fall, Kaitlynn was anxious. Though reluctant to evacuate her family from their Bogulusa home, she made plans to leave. Her anxiety was heightened because of her 32year-old daughter, Layla, who has an intellectual disability and hearing loss. Born with a rare disorder called Kabuki syndrome, Layla-Leigh uses sign language and needs support for daily living. “She also has difficulty handling abrupt change,” Kaitlynn says.

Fortunately, Layla has a helping hand and guardian angel named Naomi. A Direct Support Professional (DSP) from Volunteers of America’s Supported Living Services program, Naomi has worked with Layla since 2020. DSPs give essential care, helping persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities live independently as possible to reach their potential. Naomi is with Layla 65 hours each week.

Naomi—who learned sign language to communicate with Layla—agreed to evacuate to Texas with the family, which includes three younger siblings. Unfortunately, the family’s journey got complicated. Ida caused a tree to fall on their home. “We pretty much lost everything,” Kaitlynn says. “When we returned, we were in hotels, figuring out what to do. I am grateful to Naomi and Volunteers of America for working things out so she could continue to support Layla.”

Naomi was with Layla every step of the way and now supports her at the family’s temporary home in Picayune, MS. The support she received

while in crisis exemplifies the commitment all DSPs show daily to persons with disabilities.

Even with the stresses of the year, Naomi has helped stabilize and improve Layla-Leigh’s life. Previously, her mother was her caregiver. “She was glued to my side, and it was difficult,” Kaitlynn says. “Layla is at a 10-to-11-year-old level. Having Naomi focused completely on her has helped her look at new things outside herself. It’s been an act of compassion for Layla.”

Kaitlynn and her family still face challenges as they rebuild. She takes comfort in knowing that because of donors like you, Volunteers of America and a skilled DSP will be present for her daughter, even during life’s toughest storms.

“Layla is at a 10-to-11-year-old level. Having Naomi focused completely on her has helped her look at new things outside herself. It’s been an act of compassion for Layla.”—Kaitlynn

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SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES

In 2019, high-poverty high schools sent 51.5% of graduates to college compared to 72.6% of low-poverty schools.

Beginning Steps To A Future After High School

Did you know that Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana has over twenty programs that serve veterans, working families, seniors, people with disabilities, children, and teens? It takes a lot of dedicated employees to impact lives and build communities in southeast Louisiana.

In June 2021, Nicole Bigham in our Supportive Services program competed in a pitch competition in which participants submitted ideas to serve vulnerable populations. The competition was open to participants from across the country. Nicole’s proposal, called Elevated Vision, was designed to provide an elevated experience for at-risk or stereotyped youth in our community. She envisioned creating vision hub-mentorship gatherings, college visits, and equal access to health education. Her submission won a $5,000 prize for Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana, which was to be used to make her proposal a reality.

Nicole wanted to serve the young people of her home parish of St. John, which sustained significant damage from Hurricane Ida. They had spent the previous two years with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Now they had to rebuild their lives after a hurricane.

She contacted Abbie Freeman, who is the case manager for the WAIT! Program. WAIT! provides guidance to high-school-aged students throughout southeast Louisiana in building healthy relationships, goal setting, selfregulation, and personal development. One of the schools where the WAIT! program is offered is East St. John High School in St. John Parish. The school’s assistant principal, J. Vincent Brown was excited about the opportunity. “We thank Volunteers of America for granting our students an opportunity for exposure to several institutions of higher learning with this venture. Our students would otherwise not have shared such life altering experiences.”

At 5 a.m. on a Wednesday in July, fifteen students gathered at East St. John High School to board a bus that took them on an overnight college visit to Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, and Northwestern State University. Without the generosity of our community, Nicole and Abbie would never have been able to provide these fifteen young people in St. John Parish and opportunity to dream about their future.

WAIT! PROGRAM
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Gift Of Acceptance Changes Everything

Charles, 64, has had a lifetime worth of ups and downs in just five years. He’s seen how illness can lead to an unimaginable loss. And he has experienced kindness that changed everything.

Charles is the last person anyone would expect to become homeless. Born at Baptist Hospital, he studied mathematics at Tulane, worked various jobs, owned small planes, and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. “I was the person who helped others,” he says.

Suddenly, this previously healthy man developed a serious foot infection that led to months of hospitalization and surgeries. Pieces of Charles’s life began falling like dominoes. Inability to work led to loss of a home. He found himself, with limited mobility, living in his van on Magazine Street with no family to help. Months went by, and his hope dimmed. It was a dark time.

One day, things changed. A man named Dan noticed Charles and he began stopping by to talk

with him, offering food and friendship. “He went out of his way,” Charles says. Dan wanted to do more. He asked a friend and fellow church parishioner, who worked at Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana, if he knew of housing possibilities for Charles. The answer was yes!

In July, Charles moved into Volunteers of America’s Single Room Occupancy (SRO) on Tulane Avenue, which offers housing and support for persons who are homeless.

“Dan found this place for me,” Charles says, looking around his furnished room, still amazed at the turn of events. “I like the people here. They are extremely helpful and capable.” He can lock his door, charge his phone, and is now recovering comfortably from what doctors believe is his final surgery.

Charles says the best part of the SRO is the acceptance. “They let me come here as I am and gave me a place.” Such acceptance raised Charles’s spirits, and he is envisioning getting back, literally, on his feet and returning to work.

“I’ve been on top. I’ve been at the bottom. Give me time, and I’ll be back on top. I want to help others again.”

“...the best part of the SRO is the acceptance. They let me come here as I am and gave me a place.”—Charles

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Hayden Caron, son of Administration Manager Lisa Wagnon, is working to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Hayden’s project titled “Glorious Gardens” benefits three Volunteers of America Community Living Services groups homes—Iberville, Olympia, and Rendon. Hayden led a total of 10 scouts from Troop 230, chartered by St. Catherine of Siena in Metairie, on two separate days, creating four raised garden beds planted with a variety of herbs and flowers. Hayden secured a major donation from Perino’s Home & Garden Center, and supplemented the remaining needs from donations from family, friends and Charvet’s Garden Center. Each group home was presented with a garden tool kit, and an instruction binder with details on all the plants in their garden.

For over 80 years, you have helped create forever families through the Adoption and Maternity program. Earlier this month, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Judge Amanda Calogero finalized the adoption of baby Gianna. Congratulations to Stephen, Regina, and their daughter, Gianna.

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The Mentoring Children of Promise program held an end of summer celebration. Mentors and mentees had a great time in City Park and enjoyed lots of fun, food, and games. This an annual even has been postponed for the past two years because of the pandemic and you could tell that all the attendees were glad to be back together to celebrate such a great program.

s Did you know that Fresh Food Factor Creative Concepts & Copacking is producing several national brands out of its Tchoupitoulas kitchen? Recently, the team at Fresh Food Factor participated in the Louisiana Restaurant Associations Food Showcase. While there, they were able to share what they can provide to local restaurants as well as local brands looking to expand their production. Currently, the team is producing items for Jambalaya Girl and Brass Roots along with several other brands you will find on your neighborhood grocery shelves.

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SERVICE REQUESTED

4152 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 (504)482-2130 | (504)482-1922 fax www.voasela.org

Your Support Is More Critical Than Ever!

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1716 New Orleans, LA

On September 29, St. John Village help its grand opening celebration. As a subsidiary of Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana, Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corp. created North Covington's new standard in pet-friendly apartment home living. The property features 2-and 3-bedroom single family homes for lease. This new neighborhood provides residents a convenient and healthy location to live with a walking path, fitness center, and remote work center. Homes are currently being leased. The learn more about St. John Village, call (985)809-2699, email ihall@voasela.org, or visit https://www.stjohnvillageapts.com.

Join the Booth Legacy

Call Tony Enterante at (504)486-8691 for more details.

Various Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana services are accredited by CARF, the Rehabilitation Accreditations Commission, and ACA, the American Correctional Association. Volunteers of America is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
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Visions Newsletter Fall 2022 by Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana - Issuu