Mission

We sat down with Furniture Fair to get to the heart of why people come back each year to support Operation Backpack.

June is PTSD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Through awareness, we aim to reduce the stigma associated with PTSD and ensure that those affected by it receive proper treatment and support.

April 29 through May 27, stop by central Ohio VOA Thrift locations to donate new and unused items to give Fresh Start moms and babies the tools they need to begin anew.

In honor of Military Appreciation Month and the Memorial Day season, VOA Ohio & Indiana partnered with Old National Bank and their Military Veteran Impact Network to host a donation drive to surround local veterans with love. 

March is Women’s History Month – a time to commemorate and honor the vital role of women in American History. At Volunteers of America, (VOA) we are proud to celebrate Maud Booth, co-founder of VOA and essential social reformer. Maud and her husband, Ballington, vowed to “go wherever we are needed, and do whatever comes to hand.” They took their own words to heart, and they’ve guided the mission of Volunteers of America’s ever since.  Prior to Volunteers of America, Maud and Ballington were part of the Salvation Army in England, an organization founded by Ballington’s parents, William and Catherine. …

Judge Sara J. Harper is a woman who exemplifies what it means to live a purposeful life, dedicated to making a difference in the world. At Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana, we believe this so much so that we named a housing community dedicated to serving women veterans after her. We’d like to share with you why she is so special. “People would tell me, ‘Oh you can’t do that.’ So, I did it anyway. Away from them.” The Honorable Judge Sara J. Harper Judge Sara J. Harper was born on August 10, 1926, and grew up in Cleveland…

Black History Month is a great time of acknowledgement, reflection, and celebration. Since 1926, when Carter G. Woodson, a Black Historian and Scholar encouraged a weeklong celebration, many in our nation and beyond have been highlighting the Black experience in these very ways. We take time to acknowledge the contributions of Black people. The true list of inventions would take much longer than 28 days to acknowledge. A few major ones that we utilize daily and have had worldwide impact include the modern toilet, the traffic lights, the home security system, automatic elevator doors, and the gas heating furnace. Even…

Each year, we honor our nation’s veterans on November 11th, Veterans Day. It’s a time to take a step back and reflect on the sacrifices these men and women have made to keep us safe. It’s a time to honor them, celebrate them, and thank them. We can never be grateful enough for their service, but we can try! Make sure you take a moment this week to do something special for the veterans in your life. Whether it’s buying a cup of coffee, taking them to lunch, or a simple text message – your words will go a long…

Reflecting on my life, I ask myself: What will be your legacy? I think back to a brief part of my life, when I had the opportunity to serve my country with the United State Marine Corps. Stepping on the yellow footprints at the Marine Crops Recruit Depot (MCRD) in San Diego, CA, I had no idea on how making the transition from a civilian to Marine would be significant in continuing the legacy of military service within my family. My great-grandfather served in the World War II, my grandfather served in the Vietnam, my father did a short time…

Each year, we recognize September as Suicide Prevention Month. It’s an opportunity to spread awareness for the staggering statistics around suicide and what can be done to help those who are struggling with their mental health. At Volunteers of America, we know our nation’s veterans often face many challenges when returning from service, including unemployment, poor mental health, physical injuries, and the need for safe, secure housing. If these difficulties go unaddressed, their mental health challenges can worsen. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report (2019), veterans account for 13.5% of all suicide deaths…