Veteran's Success Stories

You Helped Jack Find His Way All the Way Home

Jack (not his real name) is a young veteran in his late twenties who returned from Operation Iraq Freedom as a sergeant in the U.S. Army — with post-traumatic stress syndrome and traumatic brain injuries after surviving an IED blast and seeing his friends and comrades wounded and killed. A native of Maine, Jack fell into difficulties with his family life, employment, and...

Helping Veterans Get Back to Work

“Modern vets face a range of challenges, including some that are new or more intense than those of previous generations,” says Michael Merrill, Veterans’ Services Program Manager for Volunteers of America’s two residential facilities for veterans in Saco and Biddeford, Maine. But finding good work is harder than ever — and harder than it should be — for some of today’s returning U.S. veterans...

Wounded Warriors at Play on the River

What if you could do something really great for veterans? Maine native Tom Ackerman of Topsham, and Volunteers of America Board Member, met the residents of Volunteers of America’s Arthur B. Huot House in Saco earlier this year — and had an idea. “My passion is helping people enjoy the outdoors,” says Tom, a lifelong outdoorsman and certified Maine Guide. “So when I met the ‘wounded warriors’ of Huot House, we got to talking...

Veterans Get a Chance to Redeem Their Independence

WCSH6; Nov. 6, 2011
SACO, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Just under a year ago, Volunteers of America opened the Arthur B. Huot House in Saco. Now, the facility is helping 10 veterans get their lives back including Joseph Hilbert, a retired veteran who was on board the USS Cole when it was attacked by terrorists in 2000.

 Saco facility Helps Homeless Veterans Rebuild Lives

bangordailynews.com; Oct. 25, 2011
SACO, Maine — He bought $350 worth of cocaine, about three and a half grams. He got nearly three grams of it into his bloodstream. “I shot it into my arm,” he recalled. “It did the trick.” Once a husband, proud father of two, executive chef at the Mohegan ...

Maine's Veterans Fight Another Battle: Homelessness

Maine Public Broadcasting Network; Oct. 21, 2011
Of the growing numbers of homeless people in the U.S., veterans are likely to be found in the statistics. An annual survey by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2009 found veterans make up about 12 percent of the population. Put another way, one of every 168 veterans is homeless. 

My Morning with Maine Veterans

Hearing the stories of our veterans can be part of the healing process. One of our resident veterans shares his story of recovery.

Volunteers of America Helping Veterans Come All the Way Home

The Volunteers of America Northern New England chapter is preparing to distribute approximately $145,000 worth of goods that almost did not find a home in Maine. With collaboration from local businesses, the truckloads of water, clothing and hygiene products found temporary storage in Brunswick. Soon, the supplies will be delivered to homeless veterans throughout the state. - See more at: https://www.voanne.org/Services/Veterans/VOANNE-In-the-News#sthash.jQC4WuAw.dpuf