Volunteers of America is a non-profit organization offering affordable housing and other forms of assistance to low-income individuals in the US, supported by 36 affiliates providing services in about 400 communities across more than 40 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Puerto Rico. Guided by the motto “There are no limits to caring,” the organization lends a hand to anyone who would need it, from low-income individuals and those with disabilities to recovering addicts and those who just got out of jail.

Founded in 1896, Volunteers of America was started by Ballington Booth and his wide Maud in Cooper Union’s Great Hall. It was no surprise given that Ballington has helping people in his blood because General William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, was his father. The couple moved to New York to assume control of The Salvation Army and was successful in boosting the organization’s image in the country. Unfortunately, the Booths had disagreements with others in The Salvation Army so the two opted to leave. They started God’s American Volunteers or Volunteers of America as the organization is known today.

When the organization was established, volunteerism as how it is understood today did not exist. Volunteering meant time was being given to serve others full-time so early members of the organization called themselves “volunteers of America.” This is how the organization got the name it uses today.

Volunteers of America utilizes more than a hundred human service programs to help improve the lives of over two million people residing in the communities the organization services. Since 1896, the organization has strived to empower the most vulnerable groups in America, touching their hearts, minds, and spirits with the help of 55,000 volunteers and 16,000 employees.