Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans

What You Should Know About Donating a Vehicle to Volunteers of America:

            The two most important things to know about donating a car or other vehicle to VOAGNO are that it’s very easy and completely safe. By giving your vehicle to an experienced and reputable organization such as VOAGNO, you will eliminate hassle altogether. You won’t have to worry about the stress of placing an ad, interrupting your schedule to meet with prospective buyers, fixing up your vehicle to make it more appealing, or wasting time negotiating over the price. VOAGNO accepts donated cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, boats or other recreational vehicles whether they are running or not. And, pickup is always free so you will never be charged for towing or have to assume any responsibility for moving the vehicle. All you need are the keys and the title of ownership. VOAGNO will handle the rest!

Safety is also a major concern whenever making a sizable donation such as a car or vehicle, and VOAGNO has done everything possible to ensure that your donation is handled responsibly. There are no risks involved and your donation will be fully tax deductible. Receipts for donated vehicles are usually mailed within 24 hours of the completed transaction and because VOAGNO is an Official IRS 501 (c) (3) Charity, the security of your donation is guaranteed. There’s no guesswork and no need for concerns about fraud. VOAGNO sells the donated vehicles and then uses the proceeds to help fund their many programs offering aid to people who need it most.

Another important thing to know about donating your vehicle to VOA is that your donation will be used to help someone in need. VOAGNO is a highly-respected organization that helps over 63,000 people each year. An average of 88% of every dollar donated goes directly toward programs for people in need such as affordable housing for homeless veterans and recovering addicts, assistance for seniors who are struggling to live independently, mentors and adoption services for children, hot meals for families living in poverty, and many different mental health initiatives and support for persons with disabilities. You can even specify the program or population that you wish to help and then stay abreast of current programs and benefits by receiving their free newsletter.

Donate a Car or Other Vehicle to Volunteers of America Today

If you are looking to donate a car in New Orleans, visit www.voagno.org. The VOAGNO web site also offers convenient links to current reviews by the Better Business Bureau and CharityNavigator.org, both of which are invaluable resources when researching a charity’s reputation and standing. You can also donate a vehicle over the phone or by email. Be a part of this proud tradition and help others by giving to Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans today!

Choosing a Volunteer Program

When it comes to picking a charitable organization to contribute to, the sky’s the limit! First, it might be helpful to think of what you enjoy doing, and what kind of interactions you want to have with others. It’s no good volunteering at an animal shelter if you have allergies, just as it might not be a great idea to volunteer with a healthcare organization if you faint at the sight of blood.

A few other things to consider are if you love working with large groups, or are you better in one-on-one situations? Are you happy doing manual labor like painting or cleaning, or are you looking for personal interactions that involve more thought and less sweat? Age also matters – some people are great with kids, while others are much more comfortable dealing with adults. Thinking about details like this up front can be the difference between loving or loathing your volunteer position.

Next, consider your skill set. Do you have a talent that might be of use to a local volunteer program? Maybe you’re great at a certain sport, have years of experience as a babysitter, or love creating new arts and crafts projects. Perhaps you write resumes, are good at interview coaching, or have an eye for picking out work-appropriate outfits for less fashion savvy friends. Whether your talent lies in manual labor or highly skilled offerings, volunteer organizations are looking for people just like you.

After weeding out the types of interactions you don’t want to have, and considering the skills you can offer, it should be easy to decide on a volunteer program type. If you like kids and are good at helping with homework or coaching activities, look for a mentoring program or after-school tutoring opportunity. People who have an interest in helping the disadvantaged might volunteer at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Lovers of crafting, conversation and history might thrive as retirement community volunteers.

Even the smallest towns have hundreds of opportunities to help; if a quick Google search doesn’t turn up a situation that intrigues you, make your own!

Want to Start Volunteering in New Orleans?

New Orleans has thousands of volunteer opportunities every day, from manning music festival concession stands to helping the homeless, and everything in between. If you’re having trouble finding the perfect volunteer opportunity, a great organization that can help match you with suitable volunteer programs is Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America. Since its start in the 1890s, Volunteers of America has been a leader in providing charitable services to Louisianans in 16 parishes. Following Hurricane Katrina, the organization placed more than 20,000 volunteers in the Greater New Orleans region, and is always looking for more help.

If you want to dedicate your time to working with the disabled, mentoring youths and at-risk students, encouraging veterans in crisis, or helping the elderly, visit their page so you can Volunteer in New Orleans today or call (504) 483-3557.

Last Thursday was the Trio with George, Johnny and June. As the clock struck midnight we all knew it was George Porter Junior’s birthday. The show was great, everyone was glad to be there for George.

If the Saints don’t kill us, what will?

It was great to see our friend Tracy back Sunday.

Props to Hank and his new oven. Hank makes great food and shares it. Props.

Honey Island Swamp Band New Year’s Eve. Rock out.

The Trio with Johnny Vidacovich, James Singleton & Skerik live at the Maple Leaf.

Rebirth Brass Band Live at the Maple Leaf.

Papa Grows Funk Live at the Maple Leaf. Visit their website here www.PapaGrowsFunk.com.

Every Sunday LIVE at the Maple Leaf following the crawfish boil at 10:00.