Portfolio Partner Profile
Volunteers Of America National Services
Volunteers of America is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides hundreds of services to disadvantaged communities, including housing assistance, healthcare, and housing. By working with veterans, seniors, homeless individuals, and those in risky situations, VOA aids across communities for a larger impact. Through hundreds of human service programs, including affordable housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America empowers 1.5 million people in over 400 communities in 46 states. As of 2018, VOA’s network of affordable housing facilities includes more than 460 properties in 42 states and Puerto Rico. Over 21,000 housing units in urban and rural communities serve the elderly, veterans, homeless, low-income families, and those with disabilities. Quality of life resident services include in-home health support, daycare programs, workforce development, addiction recovery, and other specialized comprehensive services to improve the social determinants of health.
Featured Impact Story

Impact Story
Friendship sunny side up...like a good breakfast
Friendship comes in all shapes, sizes, and where and when we least expect it. Noreen, a decade long resident of Nort Park Plaza in suburban Minneapolis and her Home Health Aide, Latoshata Bibbs affectionately known to most as “Pumpkin”, have forged a bond you typically witness in a good movie. They met because Noreen receives services through Volunteers Of America National Services' (VOANS) comprehensive home care which can include medication management, complex medical care, and non-medical tasks such as bathing assistance, and transferring from one location to another. Noreen is 94 years old and a former educator. She continues to live in her home with the support and love from people like Pumpkin. Due to Noreen’s food sensitivities, she does not utilize the meal plan. Enter Pumpkin...Two years ago Pumpkin started working at VOANS. As their relationship evolved, Pumpkin realized Noreen needed help with breakfast and started what is now a daily ritual of making breakfast for her friend. Noreen likes her oatmeal with brown sugar, diced apples, butter and milk. Other staff have attempted the culinary responsibilities, but according to Noreen, “they just don’t seem to know how to make it as good as Pumpkin.” Her other Pumpkin favorite is two cups of coffee, apple juice, pancakes and eggs, sunny side up.
Pumpkin attends medical appointments with Noreen. Pumpkin tells a story with a laugh, “she feels like my grandmother, so I am protective. When I take her to the dentist, sometimes I have to leave the room. I feel like they shouldn’t ‘dig’ in her mouth like that.” Noreen smiles fondly and counters with “Pumpkin always peeks her head into the room when I am in the in the dentist chair to ask if I am okay. Pumpkin is my friend.”
Noreen shares she suffers from Fibromyalgia and has adopted a mantra to start the day. Each morning Noreen begins the day by naming all of the things for which she is grateful. This includes why she is grateful for the home health service and that she looks for things to appreciate in people. “Sally is such a good boss, she selects good people to work for her. She’s fair, thoughtful, she listens well. Pumpkin is always cheerful, willing to listen to me and solves my problems when she can. She tells me little things about herself, so I know she’s real. All the staff are wonderful, Pumpkin is the star. I would recommend this program. People go through lots of things and they need the support. When I’m in pain, they can tell and they’re patient.”
Two cups of Pumpkin’s coffee seems like the perfect way to start the day and a friendship.