A parade of volunteer projects

Here's where Volunteers of America shows off recent projects performed by our ever-growing roster of volunteers. To select individual projects from a list, please see our "Volunteers in action" landing page. The photos and stories below are displayed chronologically, with the most recent events at the top. For information on how you can volunteer, see our "Volunteer opportunities" page or e-mail Community Relations Manager Kim Castaneda at kimc@voa-sac.org.

Residential Family Center volunteers now serving!

You can join volunteers like sisters Brandy and Amanda
Palm, who are now regularly serving the evening meal at
the Volunteers of America Residential Family Center.

When her great-grandmother passed away in 2008, leaving her a bit of an inheritance, then-20-year-old Sierra College student Brandy Palm decided to make some changes.

"She was really into helping people," said Palm, "so I thought I would work less and volunteer more – because that's what my grandma would want me to do."

When she discovered Volunteers of America online, she scheduled a tour that proved to be an eye-opener, and led to a volunteer shift serving dinner to clients at the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo.

"It was really neat to have the hands-on experience of serving," said Palm. "You understand better what's going on rather than just hearing about it, and makes you appreciate everything you have so much more."

Since then, Palm has recruited family and friends to join her in support of Volunteers of America, including younger sister Amanda who is now joining her to serve dinner at the Residential Family Center in Sacramento.

Beyond plating and serving the food and washing the trays, Palm says she tries to engage the children in light-hearted conversation.

"I wonder about how their homeless experience will affect them in later life," she says. "I try to talk to them and make them happy – cheer them up."

To learn more about available volunteer opportunities, click here, or contact community relations manager Kim Castaneda at 916.442.3691, or at kimc@voa-sac.org.

Lacin/Christophel gift Family Shelter with inspiring mural

KCRA's Leticia Ordaz interviews Sofia Lacin and
partner Hennessy Christophel about their Family Shelter mural donation for the station's noon news.

At a time when many recent college grads are hitting speed bumps on their fast tracks to success, Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel are cruising at warp speed.

The Sacramento-based artists' joint venture – Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design – has been so successful that the pair was able to afford to recently take a week off to paint a mural at the newly opened Volunteers of America Family Shelter.

The four-panel mural represents four important inspirational messages: nature and community; education; friendship, cooperation and diversity; and the idea that anything is possible, that the future is unlimited.

After seven consecutive days of work, and pints and pints of donated paint (thank you, University Art and Sherwin-Williams), Lacin and Christophel completed the project on Dec. 22, achieving their goal of having it ready to present by Christmas.

To see photos of the duo's work throughout the mural's creation, please click here.

Leticia Ordaz of KCRA 3 interviewed the pair as they put the finishing touches on the piece for a live report the morning of Dec. 22. The segment also aired on the station's noon news. (click on the YouTube icon above to view).

Many thanks to Sofia and Hennessy for their dedication and passion for the project. It's beautiful! 

Santa, elves visit the Family Shelter in form of LP Capital Advisors

Siblings Gabriel and Lillian were thrilled with
the early Christmas they enjoyed courtesy
of LP Capital Advisors.

Staff members from LP Capital Advisors in Sacramento played Santa Claus (figuratively and literally) for the children of the Family Shelter recently, bringing toys for the children in residence, as well as household items and more toys for the children who are due to arrive this month.

The children were thrilled with the opportunity to meet jolly, old St. Nick and to open gifts weeks before the 25th, and were playing with their radio-controlled cars, holding tea parties and erecting towers with building blocks almost immediately.

After the four-person contingent delivered the goodies and talked with the families, program coordinator Norma Ward gave them a tour of the newly refurbished facility.

The Family Shelter, which was recently converted from a shelter for singles thanks to help from HomeAid Sacramento and Standard Pacific Homes, officially opens Dec. 15 and expects to reach its capacity of 12 families by Christmas.

Abundant Life Worship Center serves last supper of season

It was a bittersweet evening for the members of Abundant Life Worship Center. Frequent volunteer servers at the Winter Shelter, they had come to recognize several clients who frequented the Cal Expo facility. But after two extensions, the season had finally come to an end and they were pouring drinks and serving up hot meals to the homeless men, women and children for the last time – until late-fall or early winter at least.

Led by Pastor Richard Willoughby, the eight-person contingent made the more than 200 clients feel welcome and reminded them that they will not be forgotten.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority serve homeless at Winter Shelter

The Sacramento Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority acted as volunteer servers at the
Winter Shelter June 6, 2009.

Seven members of the Sacramento Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta learned the importance of the Winter Shelter first-hand when they served the June 6, 2009, dinner to the men, women and children in residence.

Delta Sigma Theta, a nonprofit association of college-educated women who perform public service, is the largest African-American Greek-lettered sorority in the world, with membership open to any woman who meets the membership requirements, regardless of race, nationality or religion.

Helping plate, serve, bus and clean were Joanne Smallwood, Joslyn Jackson, Shani Alford, Linda White, Suzette Cade, Patricia Jones and chapter president C. Lynn Carrier. Their first-time experience at the Winter Shelter will, hopefully, not be their last – a feeling shared by many who were served that evening.

"The ladies in today's meal staff was the best y'all have done so far," gushed one anonymous client in a survey filled out that evening. "The volunteers are real nice, and make one feel special," said another.

Macy’s volunteers give Senior Safe House a landscape makeover

Macy’s Galleria at Roseville employees Sam Nejad, Jonathan Davis, Toni Chronicle, Carissa Ward and
Tim Collins recently held a 'garden party' at the
Sacramento Senior Safe House.

Macy’s Galleria at Roseville’s Partners in Time – a community volunteer group made up of the store's employees – traded in their finely tailored suits and ties for hard hats and gardening gloves as they paid a spring visit to the soon-to-open Sacramento Senior Safe House for a landscape makeover.

The group, which included Tim Collins, Toni Chronicle, Carissa Ward, Jonathan Davis and Sam Nejad, planted a variety of greenery in the front of the six-bedroom home, which is scheduled to open this summer.

The Macy's Roseville crew are long-time supporters of Volunteers of America, helping in a variety of ways – from hosting Operation Backpack donation boxes, to adopting clients for Christmas.
 

Clients give 'thumbs up' to Noble Vegetarian's meatless meal;
volunteers serve restaurant's Asian-influenced vegetarian dishes

Celebrate National Volunteers Week (April 19-25) – get involved

Since first volunteering at the Winter Shelter in December, 20-year-old Brandy Palm (center) has
  recruited boyfriend Anthony Hinojosa and sister
Amanda Palm to help serve dinners at the
Volunteers of America facility at Cal Expo.

While Volunteers of America is professionally managed and staffed throughout its nationwide network of regional affiliates, including Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada, it depends on the selfless generosity of time and spirit supplied by its local volunteers. In this time of recession, these men, women and youth are needed more than ever to aid in our mission to "reach and uplift" all people.

We celebrate the efforts of our volunteers 365 days a year, but during National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), we would like to extend a special thank-you to those who have given so much to the more than 1,800 men, women and children who go to sleep each night under one of our roofs. From corporate employee groups who have helped paint the walls of a program facility, to those church groups who have served up warm smiles and hot dinners at our shelters for the homeless, to the couples who join together to stuff a backpack full of school supplies for a child in need, to the anonymous individuals who make a wish come true for a senior at Christmas, they are all heroes in our eyes.

To learn more about volunteering for Volunteers of America, please see our main volunteer page.

Girl Scouts host Easter party for Volunteers of America kids

Members of Sierra Creek Service Unit Troop 1629, their
family and friends, hosted an Easter party and egg hunt
April 10 for the children at Volunteers of America’s
affordable-housing complex for families in Sacramento.

The 50 children in residence at Volunteers of America’s affordable-housing for families apartment complex in Sacramento shook the Easter Bunny’s paw, dyed some eggs, ate some cookies and went hunting – not for wascally wabbits, but for treat-filled eggs courtesy of the Roseville-based Girl Scout Troop 1629.

Nine girls from the Sierra Creek Service Unit troop, as well as three of their siblings (also members of the Scouts) and troop leaders, hosted the Easter egg-stravaganza April 10 at the Sacramento complex.

From decorating the community room, to setting up egg-dyeing stations, to passing out baskets to all of the children, to hiding surprise-filled plastic eggs around the lush landscaping for the kids to find, the Scouts were all about making it a party to remember.

“They all had a really great time,” said troop spokeswoman Roxanne Thompson, whose daughter Taylor alternated in the role of the big white rabbit with troop-mate Emma Leach.

“I hope it's something we can continue to do every year,” added Thompson.

For information on volunteering, please contact Kim Castaneda at 916.442.3691 or kimc@voa-sac.org.

USA Properties returns to Winter Shelter

USA Properties Fund employees, led by Amber Dymek, volunteered on behalf of HomeAid Sacramento at the
Winter Shelter March 7, 2009. It was the company's second
visit to the shelter in just a few weeks.

A contingent of eight USA Properties Fund employees and their spouses made it the second USA Properties appearance – and fourth HomeAid Sacramento showing – in a matter of a few months for a Winter Shelter volunteer meal service.

Amber Dymek, who had been part of the first USA Properties Fund service group in February, returned to lead the new team in the ins and outs of serving the men, women and children in residence at the center.

Hamburgers, pork and beans, and all the fixings were on the menu for the Saturday night dinner, which was greatly enhanced by homemade cookies brought by the smile-filled group.

The USA Properties Fund all-star team included: Amber Dymek, David Anderson, Desirae McCray, Robin Schmitt, Jim Schmitt, Lucia Munoz, Patti McCleery and Michael McCleery.

Volunteers of America board members pay visit to Winter Shelter

Volunteers of America board members, staff and family
were all smiles during Feb. 18's Winter Shelter meal service.

A quintet of Volunteers of America board members, their significant others joined Chief Development and Communications Officer Christie Holderegger as guest wait staff for the Feb. 18 meal service at the Winter Shelter.

Joel Leineke, Debbie Augustine-Nelson, Rick Wylie, Judy McGarry and Sherman Haggerty donned familiar blue aprons and food-service gloves to serve the evening's repast of cheesy rice casserole and veggies dished out by Volunteers of America Central Kitchen Director Eric Nichols.

Opportunities to connect one-on-one with the men, women and children who utilize the Cal Expo shelter, as well as the more than 40 diverse programs operated by Volunteers of America are embraced by the board's membership, who are definitely hands-on executives.

HomeAid Sacramento volunteers return to Winter Shelter

HomeAid Sacramento members and their children
volunteered at the Winter Shelter Feb. 17.

Not even a fortnight had passed when HomeAid Sacramento paid a return visit to the Winter Shelter for a volunteer meal service.

Twelve members of the Building Industry Association of Superior California's charitable arm – including a mom and her son who had just volunteered Feb. 5 – gave the men, women and children in residence for the evening a welcome respite from standing in another line as they provided table service for the evening meal.

Linda and Greg Grant (HomeAid), Kendyl and Lori Grbac (Premier New Homes Television), Valerie Hoff (TLA Engineering and Planning), Michelle Gibson (Hallmark Building and Development), Kerrin and son Jake West (Studio 81), Leena Curtis (All American Reverse Escrow), Sue Bokeko (All American Reverse Escrow), Lyn Amerine (All American Reverse Escrow) and Lori McGuire (McGuire Research) were those who gave of their time on the cold and rainy Tuesday evening to serve hot meals to those in need at the Cal Expo shelter.

Formed in 1996 by the Building Industry Association of Superior California, the mission of HomeAid Sacramento is "to serve the temporarily homeless by expanding a care provider's facility through remodeling or new construction."

HomeAid Sacramento is currently overseeing the construction of Volunteers of America's Sacramento Senior Safe House.

HomeAid Sacramento board don aprons for volunteer meal service

HomeAid Sacramento board members and their families pose
for a photo prior to Feb. 5’s Winter Shelter dinner service.

"It never ceases to amaze me how far a friendly smile can go to bridge the many gaps that are created," said Kevin Carson of HomeAid Sacramento's Feb. 5 volunteer meal service at the Winter Shelter.  "Serving the meal becomes secondary to the ability for the volunteers to give a warm greeting and share a few kind words."

Carson, board chairman of HomeAid Sacramento, led the 13-person volunteer group comprised of his fellow board members and their families, who treated the men, women and children at the shelter to table service at dinner.

"I had taken a tour of the Winter Shelter facility last year," said Carson, division president of the Northern California Division of John Laing Homes, "but this was the first time I had volunteered at the shelter. I loved the opportunity. The entire facility is so well run and the staff and care professionals are so warm and hospitable. I have spoken with many of our board members since last week and they all have indicated they want to come back again."

Among those who joined Carson at the Winter Shelter were Lori Carson, Katie Carson, Lenna Curtis, Zeffy Ruvalcab, Christeen Mazza, Tony Mazza, Lori McGuire, Laura Stickelman, Pam Herman, Jon E. Nicholson, Kerrin West and Jake West.

"Katie is still talking about it," said Carson of his young daughter's volunteer experience of serving dinner, refilling beverages and busing tables. "By volunteering you take a very small part in something much larger than yourself and become aware of so much more than what is in your day-to-day routine. This was an opportunity for our board members to directly interface who we serve.

"For me this is important because you meet firsthand the men, women and children who are impacted by homelessness. There were many smiles from both our board volunteers and the clients."

Carson said the experience was nothing but positive for the group, who quickly learned the ins and outs of serving as many as 154 people in a large dining room.

"You just show up and within minutes you are trained and ready to go," Carson said. "All you need to equip yourself with is a smile."

Formed in 1996 by the Building Industry Association of Superior California, the mission of HomeAid Sacramento is "to serve the temporarily homeless by expanding a care provider's facility through remodeling or new construction."

HomeAid is currently supporting the construction of Volunteers of America's Sacramento Senior Safe House.

Volunteers of America staff, clients hit streets for homeless count

Volunteers of America's Lyman Fletcher and Juanita Daniel
confer at the start of Jan. 27's Streetcount 2009.

Going wherever needed, doing whatever comes to hand has been a Volunteers of America mandate since its inception in the late 19th century, and one that continues today.

More than a dozen Volunteers of America staff members, including program directors Beth Valentine, Juanita Daniel and Linda Lewis, were among the more than 400 volunteers who participated in Streetcount 2009 – the annual survey and physical count of Sacramento County’s homeless population held Jan. 27, 2009.

The county program, which in addition to fulfilling a federal funding requirement, serves to better identify and subsequently serve the homeless population through one-on-one interviews conducted by the 76 counting teams.

The Volunteers of America contingent – including 27 current clients who volunteered to act as guides – were specially selected to survey the area with the highest density of homeless people.

“In addition to the intense numbers of people with whom they interacted, it was also a grueling and harsh activity due to the terrain covered, and the extra time needed,” said Sacramento County Program Planner Ruth Mackenzie. “They were dispatched at 7 p.m. and were out until 1:30 a.m.”

The experience was humbling for both repeat surveyors such as program director Juanita Daniel, as well as first-timers like case manager Sean McGlynn.

“The count had special meaning for me as I lived homeless for nine years at some of the same campsites that I was asked to count this year,” said McGlynn, who works for Volunteers of America’s Independent Living Readiness Program. “I was asked to survey people this year and it really renewed my motivation and commitment to the work that we all do. The need is so great that at times it can be overwhelming.

“At times, at least for me, it can seem like for every person we help to get off of the river, three more arrive.”

Daniel, a veteran Volunteers of America employee whose service has included leading the mental health outreach team, was moved by the attitude of those her 12-person team encountered.

“They were very receptive to us – very cooperative,” she said. “Some even said they were going to run ahead to other campsites to let them know we were coming. I think the reason they were so supportive of our efforts was because they understood what we were doing might help their situation.

“I had one person say to me, ‘We hope it helps us find a place to live.’”

“The experience I had on the night of the count reminded me of just why it is I do what I do,” said McGlynn. “I do what I do because the people that I counted that night – they matter. The people I counted that night are not numbers, they are not expendable, they are not line items to be cut from budgets and forgotten about. They are human beings with children and parents – human beings who, with a little help and encouragement, can get better.”

Above left – Volunteers of America Program Director Beth Valentine (left) talks to fellow
staffers Maria Guardado and Tammy Parillo at the Streetcount 2009 staging area prior to
leaving for a homeless encampment. Above right – Volunteers of America's Linda
Buckmaster discusses the survey with co-worker Eric Brenmark.

Members of Outreach team and their family join for caroling party

The holidays can be an isolating, lonely time for those who must celebrate the season without benefit of friends and family of their own. Volunteers of America is aware of this sad fact, so when hopes are raised for a holiday party thrown by volunteers and circumstances force a last-minute cancellation, staff can be counted on to pick up the slack. That's what happened Dec. 22, when staff called in off-duty workers and their family to help host an impromptu caroling party for clients of a permanent-supportive housing facility. Filled with the spirit, clients soon took center stage to perform solo renditions of holiday songs and poems.

Thank you to our 'wrap' stars!

Elves of all ages armed with tape, scissors and the holiday spirit flocked to the Volunteers of America Winter Shelter Dec. 20, 2008, for the 2008 Wrap It Up! event, where they dressed up more than 300 Gift of Warmth packages of donated hats, scarves, gloves, socks and ponchos to be gifted to the homeless at Christmas.

For information on volunteering in 2009, call Kim Castaneda at 916.442.3691 or e-mail her at KimC@voa-sac.org.

To return to Wrap It Up! home page, click here

To see photos from the 2007 Wrap It Up! event, click here

Lennar, Santa deliver gifts to former foster youth program

“Back in 2001 we decided to make a conscious decision to replace our holiday parties with a ‘giving back’ opportunity,” said Lennar Vice President of Sales Laura Stickelman. “Since then, we’ve culminated year-long support of Volunteers of America – support that’s ranged from help for victims of Hurricane Katrina, to rehabilitation of group homes – with Caring Gifts ‘adoptions’ each December.”

Even in the hardest economic times, the builder’s employees have filled wish lists each Christmas so those in need may feel it a little less during the holiday season. On Dec. 19, 2008, a team of Lennar employees played Santa (literally) for the young men and women of Volunteers of America's LaVerne Adolfo Transitional Housing Program for Former Foster Youth, delivering brightly wrapped gifts and hiring a caterer for a holiday dessert party for the clients and their children at the Mather facility.

One of the Lennar employee volunteers even donned St. Nick's signature white beard and red suit as he chatted with the delighted tots who eagerly shared their wish lists with him.

“Over the years, we’ve worked with several different Volunteers of America programs, including those for homeless mothers with children, former foster youth and the homeless mentally ill,” said Stickelman. “We look for organizations that are aimed at helping the homeless reestablish themselves, and those that help young people get established – that’s why we gravitated to Volunteers of America and come back year after year. You help people help themselves – you don’t offer a hand out, but a hand up.”

Macy's Galleria at Roseville Partners in Time give Volunteers of America mental health clients a Christmas to remember

    

California Highway Patrol chiefs join to serve at Winter Shelter

A contingent of chiefs from the California Highway Patrol performed as volunteer meal servers Dec. 17, 2008, at the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo. A radar gun would have been handy as the group sped from one table to the next making sure drinks were refilled and appetites satisfied. See photos from the service below.

Standard Pacific Homes joins HomeAid to assist ILRP residents

A team of Standard Pacific Homes employees, including Sacramento Division President Jon E. Nicholson, donned painter's hats and picked up rollers and brushes to give a fresh new look to the apartments of Independent Living Readiness Program clients Nov. 8.

Long-time Volunteers of America supporters, Standard Pacific Homes was one of several North State Building Industry Association members participating in HomeAid's "Painting a Better Tomorrow" volunteer campaign.

The contingent of Standard Pacific Homes employees, led by Sam Spier, were joined by family and friends in their day-long efforts.

HomeAid, the charitable arm of the North State Building Industry Association, sponsors Painting a Better Tomorrow as a means of providing painting and minor repairs to facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations providing services to the homeless in Greater Sacramento.

John Laing Homes joins HomeAid to repaint shelter

In support of HomeAid's third annual "Painting a Better Tomorrow" campaign, staff members of John Laing Homes  spent the better part of a Saturday repainting the men's dormitory at Volunteers of America's Bannon Street Shelter.

The employee volunteer effort, held Nov. 8, and led by John Laing's Melinda Brackman, was a monumental effort, with staff climbing tall extension ladders in order to reach the upper walls of the cavernous room. Kelly-Moore Paints generously contributed to the event as well.

HomeAid, the charitable arm of the North State Building Industry Association, sponsors Painting a Better Tomorrow as a means of providing painting and minor repairs to facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations providing services to the homeless in Greater Sacramento.

Sacramento mayoral candidates promise aid to homeless

Bobby Mosby was among the
54 homeless individuals who
took advantage of the
opportunity to complete their voter registration packets at
the Voter’s Forum held Oct.
16 at Volunteers of America’s
Bannon Street Shelter.

Mayor Heather Fargo and challenger Kevin Johnson promised to work directly with Sacramento’s homeless population in an effort to better their situation during their appearances at Volunteers of America’s “Voter’s Forum” event held Oct. 16, 2008, at the Bannon Street Shelter.

"We need to educate people about the homeless," Johnson told the capacity crowd in the shelter's dining hall. "Many think they choose to be homeless – that's so far from the truth. Many think they all have a drinking problem – that's so far from the truth.

"We have to care for the least among us, as well as those with all the money in the world."

Johnson pledged to form a 12- to 15-person "homeless policy team" which would include a member of the homeless community to research solutions to the problem.

"That's one commitment I'm willing to make," he said.

"As you probably know by now, my campaign slogan is 'A City That Works for Everyone,'" wrote Johnson in his Oct. 17 blog at www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com. "That includes these men and women, some of whom are experiencing homelessness for the first time because of the downturn in our economy."

For her part, Fargo made it clear she, too, was concerned by the plight of the homeless.

"I know you're on a difficult journey," she said. "My heart goes out to you. I've been concerned about your health and your safety for a long time."

The mayor did allow there were differences between her and her opponent. "I'm not a big fan of establishing a tent city," she said, referring to a possible stop-gap measure proposed by Johnson.

Fargo promised increased city-county collaboration and to look at how the police are interacting with those living on the street.

More than 50 homeless men and women registered to vote during the afternoon event, including many who had never before registered.

“I gotta get Obama in!” exclaimed Bobby Mosby, explaining why he made the effort to become a first-time voter.

"This idea sparked out of a need to have voices heard," said Volunteers of America's Nikki Stern, a staff administrative assistant who organized the event and coordinated the many volunteers who helped register the participants. "We started by registering a number of our own Volunteers of America residents, which got both staff and residents talking and led to ideas about creating this Voters Forum to register and educate more of the community."

"The homeless population is one we wanted to empower to participate by registering and listening to what candidates had to say to them specifically," Stern continued. "This event sparked a new conversation among people, which is exactly what we hoped to accomplish. We had a lot of support from the community and look forward to holding this event in the future."

In addition to the two mayoral candidates, also presenting were Barbara Hopkins of the League of Women Voters, who was on hand to clarify the registration process, as well as local spokespeople for the Obama and McCain presidential camps.

Volunteers of America staff recruits staff, clients, volunteers for
Eighth Annual Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk

Open Arms complex manager Donna Salsberry (left), administrative
assistant Nikki Stern and husband
Dan Stern, were among the mix of
40 Volunteers of America
employees, friends, family and
clients who volunteered at the
Eighth Annual Sacramento Valley
AIDS Run/Walk in September 2008.

The Eighth Annual Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk, held Sept. 14, 2008, was a successful benefit for several HIV/AIDS service providers in the Greater Sacramento area, including Volunteers of America.

More than 40 Volunteers of America staff members, clients, family and friends gathered on the west steps of the Capitol before sunrise to assist event organizers with the set up of staging and check-in tables.

"Our group was hard to miss since we were all running around in our matching Volunteers of America T-shirts," said Nikki Stern, an administrative assistant for Volunteers of America. "The Capital City AIDS Fund, which organized the event, was very appreciative of our help in setting up and glad to see that we were there making ourselves visible as a resource and service provider to the HIV/AIDS community."

"To everyone who gave their time for the event, we thank you and look forward to doing it again next year," Stern continued.

Volunteers of America annually serves more than 50 people living with HIV/AIDS, operating programs that provide housing, medication management skills, substance abuse education and life-skills training.

To learn more about the Capital City AIDS Fund and the annual Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk, see www.sacvalleyaidsrunwalk.org.

Donors, volunteers, media turn out for Operation Backpack kick-off

Top: Fox40-KTXL reporter/anchor Joe Orlando interviews
Volunteers of America Chief Development and Communications Officer Christie Holderegger about
Operation Backpack at July 10’s kick-off event.
Above (left): Volunteers of America Community
Relations Manager Kim Castaneda (right) speaks to a
donor; Macy’s Tim Collins shows off a publicity poster
as he picks up his store’s collection materials.

Triple-digit heat couldn’t keep them away – neither could smoky air. For however hazy the skies were, the mission of these donors, volunteers and media supporters was clear: kids are in need, and we want to help.

Dozens of community members ignored the elements to show up for the July 10, 2008, kick-off to Operation Backpack, Volunteers of America’s annual community drive for new backpacks and school supplies.

To homeless and disadvantaged children, new backpacks are more than back-to-school fashion accessories, they’re tools that can help break the cycle of poverty, as well as essential elements for life-affirming self-esteem.

Many representatives of those companies and agencies that are generously hosting public drop-off sites for the two-week (July 11-25, 2008) campaign made the trek to the Orangevale Save Mart to pick up their collection boxes and publicity materials from Operation Backpack staff led by Volunteers of America Vice President and Chief Development and Communications Officer Christie Holderegger and Community Relations Manager Kim Castaneda.

Also braving soaring temperatures were backpack donors, as well as volunteers who assisted with readying the boxes for distribution.

Helping to spread the word was Fox40-KTXL’s Joe Orlando, who interviewed Holderegger for a segment  that would air that evening on Fox40 News.

KGBY-My925 on-air personality Heather Lee and the marketing team from Fox40-KTXL, Operation Backpack’s media sponsor, helped create some buzz at the shopping center during the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. event. Both media groups hosted booths alongside Volunteers of America, helping draw curious passersby with music and giveaways.

Take me to the Operation Backpack home page.       

Paramount Equity Mortgage employees volunteered June 19, 2008, to complete a two-day repainting project at the
Winter Shelter at Cal Expo. Volunteers included (from left):
Courtney Thomas, Jeff Marks, Cindy Breedlove, Jason
Hensley, J.D. Nordberg, Kelly Kashoba, Darlene Hall,
David Baird, Michele Magee.

Paramount Equity Mortgage, a longtime supporter of Volunteers of America’s mission to reach out and uplift all people, reiterated its commitment when staff members picked up brushes and rollers June 19, 2008, for an afternoon of painting at the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo.

Cindy Breedlove, Paramount's Director of Procurement, led the eight-member team in repainting the men’s and women’s sleeping areas.

Team members were: Breedlove, Michele Magee, Kelly Kashoba, J.D. Nordberg, Darlene Hall, Jeff Marks, Courtney Thomas, Jason Hensley and David Baird.

Paramount Equity Mortgage employees had previously visited the Winter Shelter in 2007 as part of the volunteer force taking part in the Operation Backpack packing and sorting party.

For information on how you can volunteer on behalf of Volunteers of America, please see our “Volunteering” page, or contact Volunteers of America Community Relations Manager Kim Castaneda at (916) 442-3691 or KimC@voa-sac.org.

     

   

 

 

Eighteen employees of Sacramento-area Starbucks stores,
as well as six Volunteers of America clients, took brushes
and rollers to the walls of the Winter Shelter June 18, 2008,
for an off-season spruce-up. Starbucks staff included Tina Black, Erin O’Neill, Jen Cuniglio, Dena Williamson, Amy Caskey, Chelsea Betti, Carmela Maldonack, Jenn Mountjn, Melissa Usher, Brandi Sanders, Nate Sengmany, Fahimeh Sarang, Susan Than, Rhonda Vega and Rob Daehn.

Sacramento-area Starbucks stores and their employees have supported Volunteers of America for more than six years.

Employee volunteers have pitched in to paint and decorate transitional housing and emergency shelter facilities, adopted families at Christmas, helped renovate housing facilities for Hurricane Katrina survivors, and collected hats, scarves, gloves and socks for the Gift of Warmth drive, as well as backpacks and school supplies for Operation Backpack.

On June 18, 2008, 18 Starbucks staff members, led by district manager Tina Black, traded biscotti for brushes and went to work on phase one of the Winter Shelter interior repainting project.

Assisted by five Volunteers of America program clients, the group gave the shelter a fresh look just in time for an upcoming series of Operation Backpack staging events, which will be held at the shelter during its seasonal closure.

“It’s part of our culture to be involved with the community that surrounds us,” said Black. “We love what we do and want to share it with others.”

Participating Starbucks employees included Black, Erin O’Neill, Jen Cuniglio, Dena Williamson, Amy Caskey, Chelsea Betti, Carmela Maldonack, Jenn Mountjn, Melissa Usher, Brandi Sanders, Nate Sengmany, Fahimeh Sarang, Susan Than, Rhonda Vega and Rob Daehn.

Sacramento-area Starbucks will again host Operation Backpack collection boxes this summer, with 39 stores participating in the July 11 to 25 campaign (see the list of Operation Backpack drop-off locations). “Being able to support children and families in need that reside in our local communities, and the ability to make a lasting difference in the lives of these children is something we aspire to do as we participate in activities such as Operation Backpack,” said Black.

For information on how you can volunteer on behalf of Volunteers of America, please see our “Volunteering” page, or contact Volunteers of America Community Relations Manager Kim Castaneda at (916) 442-3691 or KimC@voa-sac.org.

   

   

   

 

Top: Brothers Bobby and Cody McDonald (left),
join parents Kelley and Dave, to volunteer together
on behalf of Volunteers of America. Above: John
Buttz (right) says it's much more enjoyable to
volunteer with son Evan.

Volunteering together as a family – whether the unit is the traditional mom, dad and 2.4 children, a husband and wife, or a significant other and significant other – adds another dimension to the satisfaction gained when giving to those in need.

That’s the consensus of Volunteers of America supporters who have made donating time and effort on behalf of Volunteers of America clients a family affair.

“It is much more enjoyable to volunteer with my son,” said John Buttz, who followed up his volunteer debut during Volunteers of America’s Wrap It Up! event in December, with multiple stints at Volunteers of America’s seasonal Winter Shelter with 13-year-old son Evan. “The chance to provide him with the life experience, and for the two of us to share it, makes it much more valuable. I can’t think of anything more valuable for a family to do together than to give to others.”

That’s a sentiment shared by Kelley McDonald, who has been a repeat Wrap It Up! volunteer (with son Cody) for some four years. This year, Kelley and husband Dave were joined by Cody and his older brother Bobby at the Winter Shelter, where they added to their volunteer résumé.

“My motivations for getting Cody and Bobby involved in volunteering is simply that I know the feeling that it gives you to help others is really second-to-none,” said Kelley. It is a feeling that cannot be bought, or simply given to you – you must earn it. My family is very fortunate, and I never want my children (or me) to forget that.

“Sometimes it takes seeing what others don’t have to really appreciate what we do have!”

Helping a child realize how fortunate they are, was what prompted Dawn Cornell to bring 13-year-old daughter Erin Lindner to help out at the Winter Shelter this year.

“When Erin was a couple of weeks old, we were having money issues and Erin’s dad lost his job and we ended up in a homeless shelter for families,” said Cornell. “I have talked to her about it a couple of times, but I wanted her to see firsthand that not everyone may be as lucky as she is at the moment, and that just because you may be in a certain situation doesn’t make you a bad person or mean you have to stay in that situation.”

As grateful as parents are for the opportunity to work with their children in service to the community, their kids – ranging from sixth-graders on their Christmas holiday to college students off for spring break – report being equally glad to pitch in.

“Volunteering … was a great way to spend three hours of my day,” said Tammy Arnaiz, who accompanied her parents Cynthia and Francis, as well as brother Francisco to Volunteers of America’s Bannon Street Shelter to serve Christmas Eve dinner. “Normally, I would be on the couch watching TV in that amount of time, but instead, I was given the opportunity to lend a helping hand, meet a lot of grateful people, and feel good at the end.”

Young couples sans children also are finding volunteering together to be a more fulfilling experience than going solo.

“I believe that when you serve others, even during the hard times in your life, your troubles may not disappear, but will somehow miraculously appear minimal,” said Phanh Maksong, who this year became a regular dinnertime fixture at the Winter Shelter with boyfriend Eric Morales. “Eric and I, just like other couples, will have days when we will not like each other very much, but heartwarming moments such as last Saturday night will help us remember the love that exists in the world; a love that so many people overlook because they are too scared to reach out and embrace it. And the memories will help us overcome whatever obstacle we encounter.”

For information on how you can volunteer on behalf of Volunteers of America, please visit www.volunteersofamerica-sac.org, or contact Volunteers of America Community Relations Manager Kim Castaneda at (916) 442-3691 or KimC@voa-sac.org.

 

 

 

 

   

       

       

Macy’s Galleria at Roseville vice president and store manager Jeff Richardson was accompanied by 11
of his staff for the Partners in Time painting party.

Macy’s Galleria at Roseville Partners in Time coordinator Tim Collins and store manager Jeff Richardson were among the dozen Macy’s staff members who visited Halcyon Place April 10 to put a coat of soothing blue paint on the walls of the facility’s recreation room.

For many of the crew, which included Charlie Brenner, Carissa Ward, Toni Chronicle, Kathy Melnikov, Jeanette Sinclair, Farzana Sanatyar, Terry Jorgensen, Jessica Baily, Gary Page and Juliet Hutchins, it was a return visit as the store has made the facility one of its regular beneficiaries.

“Everything went great,” reported Program Director Juanita Daniel, who counts Macy’s Galleria at Roseville among Halcyon’s guardian angels. “They’re just always so willing to help us out. We just love them.”

Early reaction to the newly redecorated dining hall was positive, said Daniel. “It’s cheerful and the residents really like the color.”

Collins said he hopes to bring his crew out soon to add some color to the property’s gazebo.

Now in its 19th year, Macy's Partners in Time has donated 1.3 million hours in community service nationwide.

In 2006, 67,000 employees, families and friends volunteered more than 130,000 hours to complete 2,200 Partners in Time projects on behalf of nonprofit organizations like Volunteers of America.

        

Daisy Sugiyama, Melissa Liou, Alanna Leake and Michele
Liou were among the volunteers serving dinner at the
Winter Shelter Feb. 23.

When Volunteers of America Senior Accountant Melissa Liou was asked if she might be free to lend a hand during the Feb. 23 evening meal service at the Winter Shelter, she didn’t just volunteer her services, but that of family and friends.

Along with sister Michele Liou, friends Alanna Leake and Daisy Sugiyama joined Melissa for the two-hour service. Also volunteering on the Saturday were couples Rachel and Greg Arendt, Phanh Maksong and Eric Morales, and Shane and Julie Cornatzer (along with their three children).

The dinner menu may have featured Sloppy Joes, but with such a deep bench of volunteer talent manning the pitchers and steam tables, there wasn’t anything sloppy about the evening service.
 
The 150 men and women in attendance that night were treated to kind and attentive table service as well as homemade cookies baked by the Cornatzers.

 

Macy’s Downtown Plaza employees Pat Stevens,
Tequila Angelo, Jeremy Moats, Andy Wasserman, Samantha Greenleaf, Jackie D'Anna, Mikey
Carrico and Darrell Kelly volunteered as meal
servers Feb. 21 at the Winter Shelter.

No strangers to Volunteers of America, having previously assisted in 2007’s Operation Backpack and Gift of Warmth campaigns, the employee volunteers of Macy’s Downtown Plaza were a welcome presence when they turned out in force to serve the evening meal at the Winter Shelter Feb. 21.

”It’s our way of giving back to the community,” said Andy Wasserman, coordinator for the store’s “Partners in Time.” “It’s very important to us that we show that we’re not just a store, but part of the community.”

Eight employees of Macy’s Downtown Plaza’s two stores, as well as its warehouse, donned Volunteers of America aprons to plate and serve the 143 men, women and children in attendance.

 

 

Brittny Matthews, Sharon Saechao and Ann Phan
share a holiday laugh with a Winter Shelter client during the Valentine Day dinner service Feb. 14.

More than 18 community volunteers, Volunteers of America staff and their friends joined together Feb. 14 to treat Winter Shelter clients to a very special Valentine’s Day meal service.

Already designated as a volunteer meal service date (two to three are held weekly), the day was made more special with an array of homemade cupcakes and cookies festively decorated for the holiday, as well as dozens of similarly homemade Valentine’s Day cards made specially for the residents by children in Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services programs.

Led by Development Officer Shauna Ross, Cristina Stoyle, Alexis Raymond, Karen Brown, Rachel Mowry, Kelly Siefkin, Cynsi Clark, Elaine Siegel, Gay Caputo and Kacie McDaniel baked and frosted more than 150 cupcakes and almost as many cookies to serve the men and women in attendance that evening.

Guitarist/vocalist Marcus Rivers was among the four Skyline Christian Center musicians who performed Jan.
26 at the Volunteers of America Winter Shelter.

More than a dozen members of the congregations of Skyline Christian Center and Bayside of West Roseville paid a repeat visit to Volunteers of America's Winter Shelter Jan. 26, bringing desserts and song to the 148 men and women in residence at the Cal Expo facility.

Performing for the near-capacity crowd were Skyline musicians Marcus and Maggi Rivers, Daniel Knight Jr. and Patty Kashiwamura, whose appreciative listeners could be heard yelling out "One more song!" at the conclusion of the group's one-hour set.

Assisting with the food service were Shane and Julie Cornatzer, Jerry Cornatzer, Kirby and Carolyn Loo, Glenn Kashiwamura and Dan Meyerpeter.

The Church Volunteer Network, which organized the Saturday night event, will be continuing its twice-monthly series of dessert and music programs at the Winter Shelter through its entire season, which ends March 31, 2008.

Kathi Burns was among the volunteers who served the evening meal Jan. 15 at the Winter Shelter.

We’re not sure if the recent interest in volunteering at our Winter Shelter for homeless men, women and children has been prompted by a New Year’s resolution, school-based community-service requirement or simply a desire on the part of parents to share meaningful time with a son or daughter, but we couldn’t be happier about the result.

The volunteers seem to agree.

“Definitely time well spent,” said Kathi Burns, who made the first of her visits to the shelter Jan. 15. She was joined by eight other volunteers, some of whom were also making their debut as meal servers, and some – like Cynthia and Francis Arnaiz – who were repeat time givers.

Rounding out Jan. 15's crew were Stephanie Graham, Jack Howe, Jim Evans and son Brandon, Susan Whalen and Jillian Wiseman. Wiseman was introduced to the activity by co-worker Cynthia Arnaiz – something we’re happily finding to be a frequent occurrence.

Volunteers of America Board Chairman Steven
Green (fourth from left) was among those giving
of their time to help serve Christmas Eve dinner at
the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo.

More than two-dozen volunteers spent their Christmas Eve at the Winter Shelter bringing yuletide joy to the some 150 homeless men, women and children who sought warmth and safety at the seasonal overflow facility.

Volunteers of America Board Chairman Steven Green, a senior vice president for F&M Bank, led the 5 p.m.  meal service, assisted by fellow F&M vice presidents Lily Tang and Tom Cook, along with community volunteers Diane Sindt, Dan Tschannen, Adam Tschannen, Cliff Brabant, Mark Ivers, Julia Donhost, Shani Davis, Arthelle Porter-Davis, Erinn Davis and Aysha Douglas.

"It was a wonderful experience serving the men and women of the shelter," said Sindt, president of Roseville's PSA Realty. "They truly appreciated the experience, being served at the tables instead of waiting in line. The thank you’s that we received were very sincere and heart warming."
 
"The shelter itself is a wonderful habitat for these people," Sindt continued. "What I thought about – as we were working – is some of these people could have been in my position last year, lost their job in 2007 and now (have) no place to go. Only one day could make a difference between them and me."

Following the meal service, several members of Skyline Christian Center, recruited by the Church Volunteer Network, arrived to serve a variety of desserts and perform a program of Christmas carols.

 

Volunteers deliver Christmas baskets to Greenbriar residents

The residents of Greenbriar Apartments, Volunteers
of America’s affordable-housing complex for
low-income families, enjoyed a merrier Christmas thanks to the efforts of Tom Lee and Sacramento
Asian American Ministries members.

Volunteers of America board member Tom Lee led more than 40 members of the Sacramento Asian American Ministries, their friends and family in putting together almost 150 Christmas baskets for the residents of Greenbriar Apartments.

The Dec. 22 packing event, now a tradition for the church’s congregation, saw an assembly line of caring and concerned men and women, boys and girls, prepare and hand out bountiful baskets of yuletide food staples and treats, as well as gifts, for the families of the affordable-housing complex.

The day before the baskets were packed and handed out to the largely Russian population that lives at Greenbriar, turkeys collected during the annual Volunteers of America Turkey Drive were distributed.

When asked what motivated him to lead the activity year after year, Lee replied: “I do this every year to remind myself and the church of all that we should feel grateful for. A resident’s smile is all I need to remember ‘why’ (I do it).”

Macy’s Galleria at Roseville Partners in Time
included Charlie Brenner, Toni Chronicle, Tim Collins, Stephanie Foster, Jeff Richardson and Carissa Ward.

Store manager and vice president Jeff Richardson and  the Macy's Galleria at Roseville Partners in Time – including Tim Collins, Charlie Brenner, Stephanie Foster, Toni Chronicle and Carissa Ward – did a fair impression of Santa Claus and his elves when they came to Halcyon Place Dec. 21, 2007.

The Roseville store’s employee volunteers made a noontime gift run with armfuls of wrapped delights for the residents of the permanent supportive housing facility.

In 2006, 67,000 employees, families and friends volunteered more than 130,000 hours to complete 2,200 Partners in Time projects on behalf of nonprofit organizations like Volunteers of America.

Quarry Oaks seniors gathered for a holiday party Dec. 17 complete with turkey dinner
and gifts courtesy of Village RV.

Village RV, a longtime supporter of Volunteers of America, followed up its extraordinary, employee-driven Adopt-a-Family donations at Options for Recovery Transitional Housing Program, with a Dec. 17 Christmas party at Volunteers of America's Quarry Oaks apartment complex.

Village RV bookkeeper Valerie Kinyan coordinated the event at the Rocklin senior complex, from distributing the residents' wish lists to her fellow employees, to organizing a Girl Scouts troop to help serve the turkey and cranberry sauce.

Manning the steam trays was Volunteers of America CFO Joe St. Angelo, who played host along with human resources director Bruce Quick.

Sandy Sheedy

Sacramento City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy (District 2), citing her longtime admiration for Volunteers of America's Options for Recovery Residential Treatment Program, hosted a holiday dessert party for clients and their children Dec. 17, 2007.

Program Director Paula Schmidt was on hand to introduce Sheedy and her executive assistant, daughter Tyson Sheedy, who assisted with serving the bakery-fresh cakes and tarts, which many of the younger children happily used for impromptu "face painting."

"The Volunteers of America Options for Recovery Program offers hope and a brighter future for mothers and children in need of a helping hand and human kindness," said Sheedy. "This program deserves and has my full support."

Reza Peigahi, Kara Synhorst, Susana Siqueira and
Tracy Fisk were among the volunteers participating
in 2007's Wrap It Up! event.

Originally scheduled to last five hours, Volunteers of America's 2007 Wrap It Up! event Dec. 15 "wrapped up" early thanks to an army of more than 40 "elves" who proved industrious beyond all expectations.

Spread out throughout the conference rooms and offices of Volunteers of America's administration suite, the volunteers merrily took on the task of wrapping the hundreds of new hats, scarves, globes, socks and ponchos donated during the Gift of Warmth drive.

The gifts will be given to homeless men and women on Christmas Day at Volunteeers of America's Winter Shelter, A Street Shelter and Bannon Street Shelter.

Wilton Christian School teacher Joni Peets (second
from left) and students Rachel Smith, Sydney
Shuey and Joslyn Rozema are among those
who have recently volunteered to serve dinner at
the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo.

Wilton Christian School students Sydney Shuey, Rachel Smith and Joslyn Rozema and teacher Joni Peets joined the growing list of community-minded supporters who have discovered the joy of volunteering at the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo.

Their Dec. 12 meal service had a holiday glow about it thanks to the lights of the community hall's Christmas tree and the good spirits of Peets and her students, who set tables, served the barbecued chicken dinners and refilled beverages.

Hugs, smiles and tears were the order
of the day when Village RV employees
came bearing Christmas gifts last
December to Options for Recovery.

Village RV employees helped make it a merry Christmas for clients of Volunteers of America's Options for Recovery Transitional Housing Program by adopting the facility for the fifth consecutive year.

"All the employees pitch in," said Kathy Mula, business manager and coordinator of the dealership's Adopt-a-Family project. "Some of the managers adopt a whole family."

Led by owners Bruce Cooper and Jim Wagner, the employee volunteers arrived in a pair of gift-laden RVs to deliver computers, bicycles, TVs, toys and more to the transitional housing facility on Sacramento's Cleveland Street.

"It was absolutely wonderful," said case manager Diane Waltman of the Dec. 12 delivery. "All of the clients were very happy – some were crying, others clapping, and the kids were jumping for joy."

"It was a great reaction," said Wagner. "You see the joy in their faces. Each year I get a tear in my eye – it touches me deeply knowing we at Village RV were able to do something for people less fortunate than we."

Wagner credits Herron Technology's Kahn Pham for helping fulfill the clients' wish lists. Pham supplied seven refurbished PCs for the project.

Alexandra Ossa spoons out the sweet potatoes while volunteering Thanksgiving Day at the Bannon Street Shelter.

Six Volunteers of America program facilities, including the A Street, Bannon Street and Winter shelters, saw volunteers from throughout the community serving traditional turkey dinners to appreciative clients Thanksgiving Day.

Twenty members of the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in Fair Oaks, led by Father Dane Popovic, cooked and served the evening meal to the more than 100 men, women and children staying at the recently re-opened Winter Shelter at Cal Expo.

Father Popovich sat and shared the meal with some of the men toward the end of the service while members of his congregation saw that everyone had enough pumpkin pie and whipped cream.

Other Volunteers of America programs saw the demonstrated selflessness of volunteers who shared no affiliation with one another except for a desire to help those in need enjoy as bright a holiday as possible.

It was a family affair for Placerville resident Corinne Chapman, who brought teenage daughters Jessica and Alyssa down to the A Street Shelter to serve the turkey dinner prepared by Volunteers of America’s Central Kitchen. Joining the Chapmans were Elissa Ernst and boyfriend Nick Forner.

JeNae Wendell’s volunteer team included
husband Jayson, children Cameron, Emily and Spencer, father-in-law Gary (not pictured),
sister and brother-in-law Tanea and Dustin DeVriend, sister-in-law Heather Wendell and Heather’s boyfriend Aaron Jacobson.

It was a Thanksgiving Day parade of the gastronomical variety when 10 members of the Gary and JeNae Wendell family delivered an elaborate turkey dinner to Volunteers of America’s Transitional Housing for Women and Children Program Nov. 20, 2007.

It was the second consecutive year the Wendell clan came calling with turkey in tow.

JeNae Wendell of Orangevale says she discovered Volunteers of America two years ago when she was organizing a canned food drive at her church. That led to her introduction to the Transitional Housing for Women and Children Program and to her family's first Thanksgiving project.

“Everybody was so thankful and it was so much fun that this year my kids were like, ‘Mom, when are we going back?’”

Standard Pacific staff members Alan Bycroft,
Leilani Serrecchia, Jackie Shipley, Jon E.
Nicholson and Carolyn Chambers treated
Winter Shelter residents to tableside service
during their Nov. 19, 2007, dinner.

Standard Pacific, whose longtime support of the Winter Shelter has included the complete renovation of the program’s current home at Cal Expo’s former Paradise Island amusement arcade, donations of furnishings and this year’s addition of men and women’s shower facilities, continues to be a friend in need.

A quintet of staff from the builder’s Sacramento office, including Division President Jon E. Nicholson, showed up Nov. 19 to plate the Central Kitchen-prepared dinner of barbecued chicken and to wait on the dozens of men and women in residence that evening.

Manning the steam trays were Quality Assurance and Customer Care Specialist Alan Bycroft and Regional Sales Manager Leilani Serrecchia. Seeing to the drinks and desserts (which were generously brought in by the group) were Vice President of Sales and Marketing Jackie Shipley, Purchasing Manager Carolyn Chambers and Nicholson.
Volunteering to serve at the Winter Shelter is an activity open to groups and individuals. For more information, contact Barry Wisdom at 916.442.3691 or barryw@voa-sac.org.

Starbucks District #519 managers pose with Bannon Street Program Manager Lynda Lewis (second from
right) following their Nov. 14 decorating project.

It was apt that members of the Starbucks District #519 management team assembled cornucopias for their Nov. 14 Thanksgiving decorating project at the Bannon Street Shelter.

The dictionary definition of “cornucopia” is abundance, and glad tidings and goodwill were definitely in abundance as the eight managers, led by Casey Neill, adorned the shelter’s dining room with tablecloths and centerpieces, as well as wall decorations.

”I was looking for something to do with my team – it’s a new team – as a team-building project that would also give back to the community,” says Neill.

On hand to greet the volunteers, who included Mary Dinnell, Diane Jones, Joshua Collier, Daniel Giles, Shawn Jones, Juli Goldsworthy and Amy Musial, was Bannon Street Shelter Program Manager Lynda Lewis.

UC Davis students presented a fall-themed arts-and-crafts workshop at the Transitional Housing for Women & Children program Oct. 26.

Halloween came early to Volunteers of America’s Transitional Housing for Women & Children program when a quartet of students from the University of California, Davis, ARE 112 business organization presented an arts and crafts workshop to the children in residence Oct. 26.

Third-year student Giselle Willeford led the group that included Ora Sraboyants, Deanna Delevati and Melissa Anderson, who showed the children how to create super-scary trick-or-treat bags.

The treats came early as well, as the group brought plates of homemade cookies.

Members of the Sacramento Women’s Book Club (top) cooked and served a lasagna dinner Oct. 17 for the men and women at Volunteers of America’s Bannon Street Shelter. Participating were: Jennifer Reuther, Kristen Kralovich, Helen Kwon, Cheryl Swenson, Stephanie Campbell, Selina Wang and Andrea Coldwell.

God bless the Internet. When Helen Kwon, the leader of the Sacramento Women’s Book Club, learned her originally designated charity had double-booked a volunteer meal service for Oct. 17, and couldn’t use her group’s lasagna-for-100, she jumped online.

“I hadn’t heard of Volunteers of America before going on the Internet,” admitted the longtime volunteer advocate, but I was glad to have found you.”

No more so than the 48 men and 14 women in residence at Volunteers of America’s Bannon Street Shelter that day, who found themselves eating large courtesy of the book club’s membership.

One of the clients who were happily surprised by the home-cooked meal summed up his fellow diners’ opinions: “This is really good.”

Volunteers of America’s AIDS run/walk contingent
included staff, clients, friends and family.

The Seventh Annual Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk, which took place Sept. 9, 2007, was a huge success and helped benefit several HIV/AIDS service providers in the Greater Sacramento area, including Volunteers of America.

More than 70 Volunteers of America staff members, clients, family and friends gathered on the west steps of the Capitol to lend their support.

Participating as both event volunteers as well as fundraising walkers, the group assisted with the set-up and clean-up of the well-attended event presented by the Capital City AIDS fund.
Volunteers of America annually serves more than 50 people living with HIV/AIDS, operating programs that provide housing, medication management skills, substance abuse education and life-skills training.

To learn more about the Capital City AIDS Fund and the annual Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk, see www.sacvalleyaidsrunwalk.org

Christ Community Church Director of Operations Cheryl Thornberry is nearly swallowed whole
by the sea of backpacks collected by the
Carmichael church's congregation.

Carmichael’s Christ Community Church, in its second year as an Operation Backpack participant, saw its congregation collect some 250 new backpacks filled with school supplies for Volunteers of America’s 2007 campaign.

“It’s just a way for us to serve the community,” said operations director Cheryl Thornberry.

“We’re constantly looking for community events for our congregation to participate in,” she continued. “We try to keep our vision outwardly."

The collected backpacks were so numerous, four Volunteers of America staff members in two vehicles – including a rather large pick-up truck – were required to pick up the overwhelmingly generous donation.

Christ Community Church, led by Pastor Greg Alderman, boasts more than 1,000 members.

Jan Reeves, of Sacramento Credit Union, was one of the more than 20 volunteers and staff who sorted and stuffed some 750 backpacks at Aug. 4’s Operation Backpack packing event.

Call it “Stuffapalooza.” Volunteers of America’s annual Operation Backpack sorting and packing event saw more than 20 volunteers and staff joining together Aug. 4 to go through the more than 1,000 backpacks donated during this year’s campaign.

Employees of sponsors Paramount Equity MortgageSacramento Credit Union and , along with Volunteers of America board members Judy McGarry and Stan Stancell, painstakingly checked each backpack’s contents – comparing them against appropriate school supply lists. When a backpack came up "short," volunteers headed to one of the several tables set up with school supplies and went "shopping" to complete their packs.

By the end of the five-hour session, almost 750 backpacks had been completely filled with crayons, binders, pencils, pens, markers, paints, rulers, calculators, erasers and everything else to guarantee first-day-of-school smiles.

Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Superman, Supergirl, Hello Kitty, Dora the Explorer and the Transformers adorned many of the packs intended for the under-12 set, while high-tech bags complete with water bottles and iPod pockets were featured on those backpacks destined for older kids. Operation Backpack provides backpacks for children in pre-kindergarten through high school.

To see more photos, go to our Operation Backpack page.

Staff members of Weideman Pediatric Dentistry pose with
their Operation Backpack booty. They are (top; left to right): Lori Solden, Roxie Weideman, Dr. Cindy Weideman, Kim Blanchard, Dr. Holley Gonder, Cara McKnight, Tiffany McClanahan; (above) Myla Pelitto, Allison Reining, Colleen Whitney, Tra-Shell Westbrook and Samira Abdou.

Weideman Pediatric Dentistry of Citrus Heights wasn’t satisfied in getting its own staff onboard for its second year as an Operation Backpack participant, it spread the word throughout its Sunrise Dental Plaza office complex.

“We purchased 21 backpacks,” said scheduling manager Lori Solden. “And what I did was attach a school supply list to each backpack and took the backpacks to eight offices here and asked them to fill the backpacks.”

“Some took as many as three,” she continued.

Having donated 15 backpacks last year, Solden said the goal was to fill at least 20.

The 35-member Weideman office stuffed seven of the backpacks, said Solden, noting that being a dental office that caters to children makes participating in Operation Backpack all the more meaningful.

“We are a pediatric office, we love community service and we love working with children,” said Solden. “Dr. Cindy (Weideman) is a community advocate for children, and our entire office volunteers throughout the year.”

The office’s activities include everything from adopting families at Christmas, to giving up their Saturdays to see needy children pro bono.

Those community volunteers, corporate supporters and nonprofit partners who made significant contributions in 2006 were honored July 26, when Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada held its annual Community Recognition Luncheon.

Receiving Community Volunteer honors were: Susan Mendez (bottom left with Board Treasurer Joel Leineke) of Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry; Jim and Teri Barger (bottom center); Tim Collins (bottom right) of Macy’s Galleria at Roseville Partners in Time; and Boy Scouts of America Roseville Troop 1.

HomeAid Sacramento, whose past contributions include the renovation of the Winter Shelter at Cal Expo, and is currently working toward construction of Volunteers of America’s Senior Safe House, was given the Nonprofit Partner award. Present to accept the award were Executive Director John Orr and Program Director Pam Herman.

The Lennar Charitable Housing Foundation (LCHF), which has designated Volunteers of America as a beneficiary of its transfer fee agreement with new home buyers, also received a Nonprofit Partner award.

Welcoming the 60 members of the audience was recently elected Volunteers of America Board Chairman Steven K. Green, who acknowledged the almost 40 members of the Shelter from the Storm Multi-Giving Society.

President and CEO Leo McFarland offered the invocation and introduced guest speaker Donna Stone, a resident of Volunteers of America’s Rolling Oaks senior housing complex.

Macy's Arden Fair employees Joey Love, Leilani Lim
and Barbara Campbell pose with the 22 backpacks
the store's Partners in Time collected for Volunteers
of America's Operation Backpack.

The Macy's Arden Fair community service group Partners in Time donated 22 new backpacks full of essential school supplies to Volunteers of America July 23 as their contribution to Operation Backpack.

Service manager Joey Love, merchandiser Leilani Lim and Dooney & Bourke specialist Barbara Campbell presented Volunteers of America Public Relations & Marketing Officer Barry Wisdom with the jam-packed backpacks.

Macy's Partners in Time employee volunteer program celebrates its 18th anniversary this year. The program, which won the Points of Light Foundation Award for Excellence in Workplace Volunteerism, boasts a simple, successful mission: "Sharing Our Time To Make A Difference."

In 2006 alone, 67,000 employees, families and friends nationwide volunteered more than 130,000 hours of time to complete 2,200 Partners in Time projects on behalf of nonprofit organizations like Volunteers of America.

Partners in Time projects support a wide range of community causes, including support of HIV/AIDS-related efforts, children and school partnerships, the "Bag Hunger" food drive, women's issues such as breast cancer research and domestic violence prevention, and housing and homelessness.

Macy's Arden Fair was one of four Macy's in the Sacramento market participating in Operation Backpack 2007. Macy's Sunrise Mall, Macy's Country Club and Macy's Downtown Plaza hosted public drop-off boxes in their respective Gift Wrap departments, and held employee drives.

Staff associate Grace Gray led the contingent, one of six Gilbert & Associates groups working on a variety of projects throughout the Greater Sacramento area.

Calculators were traded in for paint trays and rollers, as the group freshened-up both upstairs and downstairs apartments at the 14-unit complex.

Specializing in employee benefit plans, litigation support, estate and retirement planning, and business valuations, Gilbert Associates Inc. (formerly Gilbert Accountancy Corporation) has been a licensed firm since 1984.

Right: Among the Gilbert Associates employees who picked up paint brushes and rollers July 23 were (back row, l-r) Laura Rasmussen, Grace Gray, Misha Ayler, Anthony Tassone; (front row, l-r) Keith Glen, Angelica Ruiz and Justin Jensen.

We’ve heard their voices for years on such radio stations as KWOD 106.5, 107.9 The End, 94.7 KSSJ, 98 Rock and 96.9 The Eagle, but we got to meet the men and women of Sacramento’s airwaves in person July 18 when more than 20 Entercom Communications employees repainted the apartments of Volunteers of America clients.

Led by Kat Maudru, morning drivetime personality and public service director for The Eagle, the group of on-air talent and behind-the-scenes administrative staff painted three apartments, as well as the patio fencing of the first-floor units at the Options for Recovery Transitional Housing Program complex on Cleveland Street.

"It was an awesome day," said Denise Cornell, director for Volunteers of America's Options for Recovery Transitional Housing program. "The crew was here early and got started right away. We were amazed that they were able to completely paint three apartments in two-and-a-half hours."

"The clients made lunch for them to show just how much they appreciated the caring effort to beautify their living space," Cornell continued.

A KXTV News10 camera unit dropped by to interview Maudru about the group's commitment to volunteerism and their work on behalf of Volunteers of America. The segment aired that day on the station's 5 p.m. newscast.

"They were so upbeat and happy that it made it such an enjoyable day," said Cornell of the volunteers. "It was such a blessing to have the crew from Entercom come out and make the lives of these women better."