Photo by Nancy Royden. Nigel Coleman, left, and Jackie Hall, a staff counselor for Volunteers of America Chesapeake, attend a holiday party Dec. 17 at VOA Chesapeake's Shelter Plus Care Center in Lanham. Food, gifts and gift cards were donated for the annual event.

Published on: Wednesday, December 22, 2010

By Nancy Royden

Because of the generosity of donors and the efforts of employees with Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Nigel Coleman and others smiled and laughed during the organization’s holiday party Friday night in Lanham.

“The staff cooked the food and the clients left with food. They were given gift cards that private donors gave and we had gifts for the kids. Santa came for the kids and big kids at heart,” said Victoria Karakcheyeva, program director for VOA Chesapeake’s Community Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program.

The party was filled with adults and children who ate the homemade dinner. Some of them received holiday-themed gift baskets and chuckled as a game was played in which gifts were switched between the partygoers.

“That is a fun game to play. People socialized and had fun. Lots of work went in to it and it was worth it,” Karakcheyeva said.

Some of those at the party had never received assistance in the past, and VOA Chesapeake has seen more than 9,000 clients in its human services organizations — a figure up more than 1,000 than last year.

“As a result of the down economy, many receiving assistance from Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s facilities are experiencing the lifestyle for the first time,” said Stephanie Frankel, spokeswoman for VOA Chesapeake.

Karakcheyeva said many of the clients have “had a tough time in life,” and every year the party is held, something special is done to brighten their lives.

“We really care. We go above and beyond,” she said. “This type of community event gives them a sense of belonging; being surrounded by something that gives them support and meets their needs.”

Karakcheyeva said there were approximately 35-40 clients who attended the party, and 10 staff members planned and helped during the event.

Frankel said Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s Shelter Plus Care assists clients with psychiatric rehabilitative services, permanent housing and rental assistance.

Additionally, VOA provides senior services, assistance to those exiting correctional facilities and substance abuse treatment, according to the organization’s website.

VOA Chesapeake was founded in 1896 in Baltimore and is a faith-based, nonprofit agency providing assistance to people in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. so they can become self-reliant, Frankel said.

VOA Chesapeake was one of the first branches of VOA, and VOA is one of the nation’s most comprehensive human services groups, Frankel said.

Two major events held earlier this year garnered needed funds for VOA in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. They included the Help the Homeless Walkathon program on Nov. 20 and the Harvest for Hope 2010. Harvest for Hope raised more than $16,000 for a VOA residential program in Virginia, according to VOA Chesapeake’s website.

Anyone who would like to donate money or a vehicle to VOA Chesapeake may learn more by visiting the group’s website, voachesapeake.org. Donations can be made online or via telephone, fax or mail.