Founded in 1896, Volunteers of America is a Christian church and service organization that provides several individual and community service programs.
Its founders were Ballington and Maud Booth, the son and daughter-in-law of William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army in 1865. The Booths had moved to New York in order to take command of the Salvation Army in the United States. Before long, however, they met with opposition from other Salvation Army leaders, including Ballington Booth's brother, Bramwell Booth. Rather than pursuing their end of the disagreements, they decided to separate and to form their own organization.
The mission of the VOA has always been to uplift people, and to build them up, spiritually and otherwise, so that they could participate in active service to God. In the early 1900s, VOA was operating employment bureaus, cooperative stores, medical dispensaries, reading rooms, and other establishments, and was also distributing clothing to the needy, teaching sewing classes, and operating fresh air camps, so that people from the inner cities could experience a different environment.
Today, VOA continues its early mission, and provides more than a hundred and sixty service programs, and is active in rural areas and the inner cities. Like the Salvation Army, the VOA also utilizes a sidewalk Santa program as a Christmas fundraiser and operates a chain of thrift stores. In recent years, the VOA has focused on affordable housing programs for low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled. The VOA also has a ministry to homeless people, particularly in larger cities around the country.
Despite its name, Volunteers for America operates with largely a paid staff rather than unpaid volunteers, employing more than sixteen thousand caregivers, nurses, therapists, psychologists, architects and housing experts, administrators, and others. The organization owns or manages nearly twenty thousand affordable housing units.
Volunteers of America adheres to a set of Christian beliefs or doctrines that are largely traditional and based on Scripture. Those who are commissioned as VOA ministers become accredited clergy, able to perform sacramental and evangelical functions.
The organization has both religious and corporate governing bodies. The Grand Field Council is in charge of the religious aspects of the church, while the National Board of Directors is the responsible corporate body. The National Ecclesiastical Board is a smaller body of VOA clergy, charged with overseeing the ministerial duties of the church. Its national headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia provides technical and administrative support the local programs and projects of the Volunteers of America.
The administrative offices, boards, associations, or affiliated corporations or organizations of Volunteers of America are the focus of sites listed in this category, although any site whose focus is primarily on the VOA, whether or not it is associated with the organization, may appropriately be submitted to this category for consideration.
Recommended Resources
The non-profit church organization maintains several programs designed to help people change their lives for the better, including immediate and long-term assistance. Its ministry and details of several of the services provided by the church are highlighted, including its advocacy programs, volunteer opportunities, career opportunities, and partners. Its media center includes video testimony from clients and others.
http://www.volunteersofamerica.org/
Volunteers of America, Colorado Branch
VOA has a special focus on supporting and empowering the most vulnerable groups of people, such as the hungry, the elderly, the disabled, at-risk youth, women in need, and veterans, for which it offers a variety of urgent and long-term support services. Highlights of its programs and ministries are set forth, with testimonials and stories from clients and others, videos, photographs, and a blog.
https://www.voacolorado.org/
Volunteers of America, Greater Baton Rouge
Supporting the ministries and programs of Volunteers of America in the Greater Baton Rouge region, Acadiana, and southwestern Louisiana, the Greater Baton Rouge branch is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The available housing may be found within the site, along with an overview of its other services and projects, employment and volunteer opportunities, a resource guide, and employee links.
https://www.voagbr.org/
Volunteers of America, Greater New York
Representing the interests, ministries, and programs of the Volunteers of America in the metropolitan New York region, Westchester County, Nassau County, and portions of Northern New Jersey. Administrative contacts, sponsorship, career, and volunteer opportunities, and a profile of the church network’s programs and services are discussed, along with news reports, client stories, videos, and annual reports.
https://www.voa-gny.org/
Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, the VOA is a church as well as a community and individual support organization, offering affordable housing and several other assistance programs to low-income people, the elderly, and the disabled. Its church activities are primarily outreaching in nature rather than working out of church buildings. An overview of its ministries, services, and programs are put forth, and administrative contacts are provided.
https://www.voa.org/
Volunteers of America, Michigan
With offices in Southfield, the church organization represents the ministries and services of Volunteer of America within the State of Michigan. An account of the church’s projects, programs, and outreach activities are set forth, along with an overview of its organizational structure, volunteer and career opportunities, and ways in which interesting persons might contribute to its work. A newsletter may be subscribed to.
https://www.voami.org/
