THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE WEEK THE Luzerne FOUNDATION Here for good. Community Champion of The Week: Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania Volunteers of America PENNSYLVANIA Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania (VOAPA) is a community-based organization whose ministry of service is to empower vulnerable communities, families, and individuals through support and resources that lead to health and stability. Since 1896, VOAPA has provided highly effective services centered around housing, health, and children, youth and families. VOAPA has regional offices located in the Northeast, Lehigh Valley, Central, and Southwest Pennsylvania communities. In Northeastern Pennsylvania, VOAPA operates the Give Hope program. Give Hope offers mobile street outreach services to support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness and housing instability throughout Luzerne and Wyoming Counties. Since launching in 2019, Give Hope has filled a gap and served as a consistent, compassionate presence for people who need a helping hand, offering connection, dignity, respect, and practical support during moments of extreme vulnerability. OUTREACH Give Hope operates with a person-centered outreach approach, meeting individuals where they are physically located rather than requiring them to navigate complex systems on their own. Our outreach team conducts in- the-field assessments focused on housing and health-related social needs, allowing the program to rapidly connect individuals to local services that can support stabilization and rehousing. Through mobile outreach, the Give Hope team provides individualized case management and resource navigation, helping people access housing and employment assistance, behavioral health services, medical care, and public benefits more easily. The program also offers direct, practical support like transportation assistance, access to food, survival equipment, and other essential items that help people stay safe living in the elements while they work toward long-term solutions and permanent housing. In Luzerne County alone during 2025, Give Hope provided support and resources to 322 people" experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Volunteers of America In addition to direct service delivery, Give Hope plays an important role in strengthening cross- sector collaboration across the region. By working closely with emergency shelters, healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, and county systems, the program helps ensure that people experiencing homelessness on the streets are not falling through the cracks. All of Give Hope's services are provided at no cost. The program's work is grounded in the belief that housing instability and homelessness are not individual failures, but community challenges best addressed through outreach, coordination, and respect for each person's lived experience. By seeking out the most vulnerable members of the community and offering consistent, relationship- based support, Give Hope continues to improve access to care, promote stability, and bring hope to individuals who need it most. Working together makes our community stronger. If you have a cause near to your heart and want to Volumpers of Ameri make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond, please call us at the Luzerne Foundation or visit www.luzfdn.org for more information. Do you want to make our community better? So do we. Let's do it together. Because of you and for you, we are... Here for good. Volunteers of America® PENNSYLVANIA THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION 34 SOUTH RIVER ST. WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702 WWW.LUZFDN.ORG 570.822.2065 THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE WEEK THE Luzerne FOUNDATION Here for good . Community Champion of The Week : Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania Volunteers of America PENNSYLVANIA Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania ( VOAPA ) is a community - based organization whose ministry of service is to empower vulnerable communities , families , and individuals through support and resources that lead to health and stability . Since 1896 , VOAPA has provided highly effective services centered around housing , health , and children , youth and families . VOAPA has regional offices located in the Northeast , Lehigh Valley , Central , and Southwest Pennsylvania communities . In Northeastern Pennsylvania , VOAPA operates the Give Hope program . Give Hope offers mobile street outreach services to support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness and housing instability throughout Luzerne and Wyoming Counties . Since launching in 2019 , Give Hope has filled a gap and served as a consistent , compassionate presence for people who need a helping hand , offering connection , dignity , respect , and practical support during moments of extreme vulnerability . OUTREACH Give Hope operates with a person - centered outreach approach , meeting individuals where they are physically located rather than requiring them to navigate complex systems on their own . Our outreach team conducts in- the - field assessments focused on housing and health - related social needs , allowing the program to rapidly connect individuals to local services that can support stabilization and rehousing . Through mobile outreach , the Give Hope team provides individualized case management and resource navigation , helping people access housing and employment assistance , behavioral health services , medical care , and public benefits more easily . The program also offers direct , practical support like transportation assistance , access to food , survival equipment , and other essential items that help people stay safe living in the elements while they work toward long - term solutions and permanent housing . In Luzerne County alone during 2025 , Give Hope provided support and resources to 322 people " experiencing unsheltered homelessness . Volunteers of America In addition to direct service delivery , Give Hope plays an important role in strengthening cross- sector collaboration across the region . By working closely with emergency shelters , healthcare providers , behavioral health organizations , and county systems , the program helps ensure that people experiencing homelessness on the streets are not falling through the cracks . All of Give Hope's services are provided at no cost . The program's work is grounded in the belief that housing instability and homelessness are not individual failures , but community challenges best addressed through outreach , coordination , and respect for each person's lived experience . By seeking out the most vulnerable members of the community and offering consistent , relationship- based support , Give Hope continues to improve access to care , promote stability , and bring hope to individuals who need it most . Working together makes our community stronger . If you have a cause near to your heart and want to Volumpers of Ameri make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond , please call us at the Luzerne Foundation or visit www.luzfdn.org for more information . Do you want to make our community better ? So do we . Let's do it together . Because of you and for you , we are ... Here for good . Volunteers of America® PENNSYLVANIA THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION 34 SOUTH RIVER ST . WILKES - BARRE , PA 18702 WWW.LUZFDN.ORG 570.822.2065