No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. — Aesop
History of Volunteerism and Volunteers of America
Ballington Booth, son of William Booth and founder of the Salvation Army, married Maud Charlesworth. Soon after their marriage, they left England for the United States charged to bring the Word of God to the impoverished citizens of New York City. Evangelism and service were at the heart of this young couple's mission; and when they were suddenly asked to return home, there was such an outcry by the American public, they chose to stay, breaking away from the Salvation Army and forming a new group, God's Volunteers.
The word volunteer had a much different meaning during the late 1800s. It stemmed from the military term of protecting and serving. A volunteer was someone whose vocation was one of service. God's Volunteers eventually changed to Volunteers of America, reflective of a nondenominational Christian church that today provides hundreds of human service programs to more than 2 million people each year, but outside the confinements of the traditional church building.
For information about volunteering with us, email william.browning@voanne.org or call 207-373-1140
See the links below for examples of past and current volunteer projects at Volunteers of America Northern New England.
3,000 Scholastic Books Given Away at Seadogs Game
Pierce Atwood's Day of Community Service