1 in 5 kids start school without the supplies they need. Without those items, it's hard to learn or even just fit in. That's where Operation Backpack comes in. We fill backpacks with supplies and get them into the hands of kids who need them. Here's the good news: a prefilled backpack costs less than $25. Just $25 to change a kid's school year. Just $25 to say "you matter." We need hundreds more this summer. Will you help? voami.org/opbk Donate. Purchase a backpack. Volunteer. Every bit helps. #OperationBackpack #VOAMichigan #BackToSchool

Thank you to Technology Management Resources for the landscaping work at Detroit Veterans Housing Program! Our veterans deserve beautiful spaces to call home. 💙 #VOAMichigan #DVHP #CommunityPartnership

MI Thrift is going LIVE on Whatnot! July 1 at 6 PM EST. Shop in real time. Great finds. $1 starting bids. Every purchase supports our community. 💙 Follow @VOA_MIThrift #MIThrift #ThriftShopping #VOAMichigan

Military Appreciation picnic at Detroit Veterans Housing Program on Memorial Day! Thank you to everyone who made this happen and to those who served. 💙 #VOAMichigan #DVHP #MemorialDay #VeteranAppreciation

Fox Run Senior Living Community recently organized a food drive for our Detroit Veterans Housing Program and is already planning a coat drive for fall. We're grateful for their generosity. 💙 #VOAMichigan #VeteranSupport #FoxRun

This is what Operation Backpack looks like: two kids ready for school. Ready for everything. 2,800 kids last year. Let's reach more this summer. voami.org/backpack #OperationBackpack #VOAMichigan

Many of our seniors can't get to a grocery store. Transportation. Health. Mobility barriers. Our friends at @metrofoodrescue opened a pantry at our Sumby Senior Living facility last week. Meaning our seniors now receive fresh food, right at home. Twice a month. Barriers removed. Lives enriched. Thank you Metro Food Rescue! 💙 #VOAMichigan #FoodSecurity

Someone asks for help. Housing asks their story. Health asks again. Case management asks again. By the third time, they're exhausted. Lost faith. Some give up. The system meant to help defeats them. As Aubrey explained at Mackinac: that's retraumatizing. Breaking silos saves lives. Watch: detroitchamber.com/shared-pu… #MackinacPolicyConference #VOAMichigan

May is Military Appreciation Month. A time to honor those who serve and have served. Part of real appreciation is understanding what they face. Did you know that according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 18 veterans lose their fight with mental health every day? Many of their struggles are invisible. This week, our community gathered to honor a veteran who lost that battle, Calvin. One of our team members, Dustin Curtis, a peer support specialist with our SERV program, was asked to speak at his memorial service. Dustin shared his own story about surviving his own mental health struggles. He listened. He reminded people: you're not alone. Help exists. This is what appreciation looks like. Understanding. Support. Showing up when it matters. If you're a veteran struggling, please reach out. Call or text 988 and press 1 (Veterans & Suicide Crisis Lifeline). It's free, confidential, and available 24/7. We have your back. 💙 #MilitaryAppreciationMonth #VeteranSupport #MentalHealthMatters #VOAMichigan

Our President and CEO Aubrey Macfarlane is speaking at the Mackinac Policy Conference on breaking down silos in human services. The panel explores how housing providers, schools, nonprofits, and agencies can collaborate as one system to better support Michigan residents. This Thursday, May 28 | 8:30 AM Watch: detroitchamber.com/mackinac-… #MackinacPolicyConference

We’re honored to receive the Spirit of VOA award from @voami for the work we did together through the Call Sam Chopper Shop. We’re proud to partner with an organization that does so much to support veterans and give back to those who served our country.

Today we remember the veterans who served and the ones who didn't make it home. We serve veterans every day. Housing. Employment. Support. It's not enough to repay what they gave. But it's what we can do. We remember. 💙 #MemorialDay #Veterans

Last year, VOA Michigan served over 8,000 Michigan residents. 750 affordable housing units for seniors and families. Hundreds of veterans connected to stable housing. 2,800 students starting school with backpacks and supplies. That didn't happen in a vacuum. It happened because people spread the word. Because someone told their friend. Because a post got shared. Because visibility turned into volunteers, donations, and partnerships. This is how movements grow. One share. One conversation. One person saying "this matters." If this work resonates with you, tell someone. Share this post. Talk about what we do. Amplification is action. 8,000 people served last year. Let's reach more this year. 💙 #VOAMichigan #CommunityImpact #Michigan

These photos say it all. Delta River threw a Spring Fling for residents. Door raffles. Perry Como and Motown on the playlist. Dancing. Food. Look at the joy on their faces. When staff go above and beyond like this, it builds more than community. It builds a home. Join us in thanking Lisa and her A Team at Delta River. 💙 #VOAMichigan #DeltaRiver #SeniorHousing #CommunityMatters

We need volunteers. Not for one project. For ongoing support across Michigan. Here's some of what volunteers do with us: - Pack and distribute Operation Backpack supplies - Organize activities at senior housing communities - Help with events and community programs - And so much more! Some volunteers come weekly. Some come monthly. Some show up for big events. All of it matters. If you have a few hours to give, we have a place for you. Learn more at voami.org/volunteer 💙 #VOAMichigan #Volunteer #MichiganVolunteers #GiveBack

Veterans: if you're in crisis, there's help. 988, then press 1 Veterans Crisis Line. 24/7. Confidential. Free. Talk, text (838255), or chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net). You don't need VA benefits. You just need to call. Help is there. 💙 #VeteransCrisisLine #988

Summer cleaning? Don't toss it. Donate it. That furniture taking up space in your garage. Those clothes you haven't worn in two years. The home goods sitting in boxes. They're worth more donated than thrown away. Our thrift stores turn your clutter into funding for Michigan veterans, seniors, and families. Real revenue. Real programs. Real impact. Check what we accept. Some locations offer free pickup. All take drop-offs. Stop procrastinating. Clean out your house and do something useful with it. voami.org/thrift 💙 #VOAMichigan #ThriftDonations #SummerCleaning #VOAMIThrift

Michigan students need backpacks. We have 12 weeks until schools start. Last year: 2,800 students. This year: need is greater. Fastest way to help: Roonga. $25 = 1 backpack. 2 minutes. Or start a drive and share the link. roonga.com/operationbackpack…💙 #VOAMichigan #OperationBackpack

This will warm your heart. We received this message from a resident at our Partridge Creek senior housing: "Thank you for such a lovely Mother's Day tea. Lorna Watson & Arlisha, we APPRECIATE YOU. VOA Partridge Creek...simply the best." Our Partridge Creek team members, Lorna and Arlisha, organized a Mother's Day tea for residents. Not just for mothers. For everyone. Because sometimes what people need most is to be reminded they're loved and cherished. A cup of tea. A moment of connection. That's what changes someone's day. When staff go above and beyond like this, it doesn't just make a difference. It builds community. And residents notice. To Lorna, Arlisha, and every team member who shows up with heart: thank you. 💙 #VOAMichigan #SeniorHousing #CommunityMatters #PartridgeCreek

Happy Mother's Day to the moms who make our work possible. Like Carmen Nieves, our Thrift District Director. Mom. Leader. With us since 2022. "It's about showing compassion, kindness, and understanding to people facing challenges." To Carmen and every mom who serves, is served by us, or supports this work: Happy Mother's Day. 💙 #VOAMichigan #MothersDay