I first became acquainted with the extraordinary work of this organization in the early 1980’s when I was working with the State Office of Mental Health.  Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge was one of the social service providers that offered a variety of services to our clients, and, at that time, I was not aware that the organization’s founding principle was to “go wherever we are needed and do whatever comes to hand” in the service of God and humanity.  In the 1990’s when I was working with OMH as the Housing and Homeless Services Coordinator, I saw that principle in action when I talked to the previous director about the need for a “drop-in” center for our clients, and he promptly said, “We can do that.”  Volunteers of America’s Drop-In Center on Florida Boulevard continues to provide needed services for persons with mental illness and those who are homeless. 

That guiding principle and Volunteers of America’s status as a church are what distinguish us in the community. As a social worker, I was impressed with the quality services and professional staff I encountered.  As a board member, I have grown more impressed at the comprehensive services provided in our 19-parish region.  It has been an honor to serve on the board, and now it is a great privilege to serve as chair.  We are fortunate to have an active and talented board and enthusiastic and loyal volunteers who support our dedicated staff.

These are challenging times for many non-profit organizations, and the board is fully committed to ensuring that we have the resources to continue the good work our community has grown to expect from this fine organization.  We invite each one of you to join with us to expand our base of community support and continue to demonstrate that “there are no limits to caring.”

Margaret Culbertson