Volunteers of America Southeast host second annual Volunteers of America Day

WARNER ROBINS – Volunteers of America Southeast hosted its second annual Volunteers of America Day at The Table at First Christian Church on Wednesday, Nov.13.

The event included various community resources, employment services, housing services, hygiene kits and free haircuts. Organizations like Genesis Joy House, Houston County Health Department, VECTR Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs were present to spread awareness of how they help veterans, homeless neighbors and the elderly.

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick said there were many services giving resources, which is what Volunteers of America Day is all about.

Volunteers of America Day is a day dedicated to putting different service organizations together who support the same mission: helping people. Patrick said Volunteers of America Southeast dedicate a lot of time to helping veterans which is why the event gathers veteran organizations, people who want to house homeless veterans or provide care to them. Along with them, there are others who provide different pieces of the puzzle.

 “Volunteers of America Day is about uplifting our veterans and also uplifting others,” she said.

Patrick also shared the city believes in the same mission as Volunteers of America and the organizations who were present at the event. 

“That is bettering our society, uplifting people and helping and serving people. That’s what we do in the city of Warner Robins, that’s what our mission is,” she said. “We connect and we agree with many organizations here. It’s always a pleasure to be a part of this day, allowing people to come to one place and get all the resources that they could possibly need and that is what this is about.”

The event has grown since last year, which was the first year the organization hosted the event in the city. Patrick and Haven Hope House supervisor Brian Wise said the turnout has doubled since last year. They anticipate the event will be bigger next year and the city has offered to host a location because of the growth.

Wise said food banks have been giving out flyers and offering their support. He said the event is not only for veterans and everyone can attend.

“It just shows you what community is supposed to be. It’s supposed to be united; we’re supposed to be uplifting others and reaching out and helping those who need help,” Patrick said.

Patrick hopes more individuals who need help but are afraid to ask or don’t know how to receive help find their way into the event’s doors. 

“When they do, it helps keep somebody off the street, it helps keeps someone from being very sick and get resources, it helps a child not be hungry. That’s what I hope, giving them access and the awareness so people know there are answers,” she said.

To find out more about Volunteers of America Southeast click here.