COMMUNITY PROFILE VOA’S DENVER OFFICE. | PHOTO BY GILES CLASEN HOW VOA SERVICES MY COMMUNITY BY CHARLES SPRING DENVER VOICE VENDOR I’VE BEEN LIVING at the VOA Sunset Park Apartments, which is a lowincome housing complex, since October 17. For the most part, everyone is very friendly, and housekeeping and maintenance keep the building clean and working right. Most of the workers also live in the building and work as volunteers. There are only one or two employees working that, in my opinion, are rude and obnoxious, but there are always a few bad apples no matter where you go. On the other hand, Ranae F., the assistant property manager, is the nicest one in the bunch. She helped me get everything done and organized when I moved in, and she explained everything and showed me around the building. She even made my father feel at home when he came to visit recently. She is the friendliest person here, very outgoing and nice to everyone. The VOA has been a great help to me, providing me with a place to live and a community to make friends. They hold a bunch of community activities at my complex every day to help the people in the building feel welcome and give them opportunities to converse with others in the community. On Mondays and Fridays, they hold BINGO games and give out prizes to the winners. On Tuesdays, they hold tech classes to help learn computer skills. They also hold arts and crafts classes, dancing lessons, and other activities to keep the building’s community active and engaged. Every day there is something new and fun to do. They also provide free morning coffee and lunches to their tenants every day. The Volunteers of America was founded on March 8, 1896, by Ballington and Maud Booth. It’s a faith-based nonprofit charity organization that provides affordable housing and a great number of other assistance services primarily to lowincome or homeless people throughout the United States. Its headquarters is in Alexandria Virginia, the organization includes 32 affiliates and serves approximately 1.5 million people each year in 46 states. The VOA Colorado branch began operating in Denver shortly after its founding in 1896. The first VOA programs in Colorado were in Boulder, Leadville, Pueblo, and, soon after, Denver. By the turn of the century, VOA soup kitchens fed the hungry, and sleeping space was provided for the homeless. The faith-based, nonprofit organization provides material and spiritual aid to those in need. The organization’s mission is to identify and serve the needs of the most vulnerable individuals and families in the community. VOA Colorado supports many populations, including children, families, veterans, and seniors. The Denver headquarters for VOA is at 2660 Larimer St. The organization also has the “Sunset Tower” and “Sunset Park” (which is where I reside), “Michael Kern Kitchen” on Larimer Street, and the donation and distribution center at 2877 Lawrence Street. The VOA on Lawrence Street also hands out bagged lunches, and on the last Friday of the month, they serve hot food and give clothing, shoes, and hygiene items to the homeless. When I was homeless I attended one of those events and received help. With help from the City of Denver, the VOA plans to break ground on a five-story shelter to serve families and veterans experiencing homelessness. The shelter will replace the VOA Colorado Theodora Family Hotel, a noncongregate hotel, at 4855 W. Colfax Ave. The replacement shelter will have more capacity and services to meet the growing community needs and is expected to be completed in early 2025. The VOA has been around for a long time and is sure to stay around for even longer, they have helped millions of people and will continue to help millions more. January 2025 DENVER VOICE 5
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