Stories of Light

Durango Community Shelter Finn* has faced homelessness twice in his life. At 16, he fled an abusive homelife and lived alone in a tent until he could enlist in the military. He served Honorably in the United States Army Reserves for 8 years, while obtaining his GED, college degree, and post-graduate degrees. He had started his own family and was “living a wonderful life,” until tragedy struck in 2012, he said. “It was a car accident. Nobody to blame, just a random accident. I spent a lot of time trying to make sense of it, but that was a fool’s…

Community Support Programs Jack and Joyce met about 20 years ago at anice skating rink in Fort Collins. Joyce, being anavid ice skater, noticed Jack holding onto the rail, and she decided to visit with him—the rest is history. They still live in Fort Collins in a Senior living cottage and receive their groceries through the VOA Grocery Program. The Grocery Program connects seniors with local volunteers that pick up grocery items and deliver them to seniors that need a helping hand. Little did we know how useful this program would be during the 2020 pandemic, during which at risk…

Hunger Services What makes Volunteers of America Colorado unique is how holistic our services are. We can help clients improve their lives and longevity by utilizing multiple programs to support their needs. Tom began receiving Meals on Wheels about six years ago after he was diagnosed with a disability. Tom remains as boisterous and positive as ever, and his bright personality shines with every story he tells—and Tom is full of stories! Tom is thankful for the Meals on Wheels program, especially because it is difficult for him to grocery shop. His delivered meals help keep him safe at home,…

Volunteer Programs Mr. Earl (as he is endearingly called) has been volunteering at Volunteers of America Colorado for nearly a decade. He began at the VOA Mission, a daytime shelter that provides clients with food, clothing, resources and a safe place for relaxation. Mr. Earl fell in love with the holiday traditions at the Mission, like making emergency food bags, assisting with cookouts, and making sure no one goes hungry. “As long as I’m helping someone, I’m happy,” Mr. Earl said. Mr. Earl met Carlos when he began volunteering at City Harvest Food Bank, and the pair now work together…

More than just a home Alycia began her story with Volunteers of America as a young single mother, without a stable home for herself and her daughter. With a felony on her record, Alycia found herself feeling hopeless. She had paid her debt to society, but had no job, a 6-month-old, and no home to call her own. Housing applications felt pointless as every background check was followed with a rejection. Alycia’s mother encouraged her to apply to the new Volunteers of America affordable housing unit, Boulevard One. Alycia had low expectations that as a former felon she would be…

Robert can depend on Meals on Wheels Robert is a Vietnam War Veteran and has been a Meals on Wheels client for 4 years. Likemany of our Meals on Wheels clients, Robert has difficulty doing day to day tasks that manyof us take for granted. For Robert, Meals on Wheels means that he can depend on both anutritious meal and a friendly face on a regular basis. Tom is a Meals on Wheels volunteerthat has been delivering to Robert since the beginning. Tom went above and beyond hisduties as a Meals on Wheels volunteer when he recognized that Robert had…

Caring Companion Brightens Day for Older Neighbor and Family Kathryn and Kurt Renick share a love story that is unlike any other – one that has persisted beyond borders, time, and, most recently, memory. They met 17 years ago through a chance interaction over the Internet. Kathryn was renting out her charming lakeside cottage in Nova Scotia, Canada; Kurt was planning a trip with his daughter and son-in-law to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary. A conversation about rental plans soon developed into one more casual, and after several emails back and forth, the two found that they shared a lot…

Graduation day was filled with celebrations and surprises We are so thankful for all our sponsors of Camp POSTCARD – Daniels Fund, Anschutz Foundation, Denver Broncos Community Development, A-GRIP City of Aurora, Denver Police Foundation, Niagara Bottling, and many individual donors! It is because of their generosity that over 100 kids were able to go to camp this summer and experience new things, make new friends, and make lasting memories. Thank YOU!  To view the video from 9news, click the photo below!

Finally a Place to Call Home Five years ago, 19-year-old Whitney Whitson had a baby on each hip and nowhere to go. Now, 25 years old with an education, a career and two beautiful daughters, Whitson will be closing on her first home Monday thanks to help she found with Volunteers of America. “I wanted better for my kids. I wanted the cycle to stop with me,” Whitson said. After having her second daughter at age 19, Whitson was forced to leave her mother’s house and found a transitional housing program for single parents, Warren Village. There she worked hard…

Home, for the Very First Time Purchasing a home is something that many aspire to do one day. It is a challenge for anyone entering the home buyer’s market and is one of the most stressful things to do. Now, imagine being homeless. Imagine the dream of home ownership not applying to you. That is exactly how Casey felt, but luckily the focus of the Volunteers of America Brunetti Lofts program is to take formerly homeless families and individuals and move them along the path to home ownership. Casey arrived in Denver in 2007, after growing up in a small…