Having lived with the volunteer fever for many years, being asked to serve as a board member for Family Serve of Roanoke Valley was a no brainer. Volunteerism is such an enormous part of my life, so much so I was able to turn my love of volunteering into a career. As the director of …
Mental Health Warrior: Kaley Aragon
More hearts the size of Kaley Aragon’s are needed within this world. With a passion to help people, Kaley decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, premedical track, from Liberty University. After working as a residential sponsor, Kaley was led to the Guardianship program at Family Service of Roanoke Valley. The Guardianship program provides …
Managing my mental health as a student of color
Making the decision to go to college can be tough. In my case I knew I definitely wanted to pursue higher education. I just wasn’t sure where or how. Financially I was more than ready to depend on Sallie Mae. The impending doom of graduating with thousands of dollars in student loans wasn’t my greatest fear. I …
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Mental Health Warrior: Aneesa Foddrell
Aneesa Foddrell, a Youth Development Specialist with Positive Action and the Teen Outreach Program®, came to Family Service of Roanoke Valley through a unique path. With a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Aneesa spent nearly six years as a state correctional officer in an adult facility. You read that right. I, too, was surprised …
MLK Day: Celebrating service all through the year
For MLK Day 2019, Family Service of Roanoke Valley is celebrating our year-round commitment to service. Partners in Service While the community celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday on Monday, we welcome our first AmeriCorps VISTA members on Tuesday. Check out the AmeriCorps at Goodwill MLK Day event, “Walk through History” on Monday, Jan. 21. …
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Is a history of sexual abuse related to human trafficking?
You may or may not know today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. You also may not know the answer to my blog title. Yes. There is a direct link between a history of sexual abuse and human trafficking victims. The one thing shared by 84 percent of survivors is a history of childhood sexual abuse (1). …
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Thank you for Giving a Chance!
You heard the urgent call to build a stronger community, one life at a time. And boy, did you answer!! Thanks to your generous gifts, $18,378 has been raised through the Give a Chance campaign. You, our dear donors, are Mental Health Warriors!! Your support means people who are taking care of their parents or …
Prioritize mental fitness this year
Often, when people make New Year’s Resolutions, they are referring to their physical fitness. It is equally important to consider our mental and emotional fitness. The idea of mental fitness refers to our ability to think, behave and feel in ways that allow us to meet our needs and work toward our goals. Just like …
Don’t let stress get the best of you
Everyone experiences stress, especially at this time of year. With the holidays moving quickly behind us, oftentimes leaving debt and sometimes disappointment in its wake. And the new year ahead of us, with hope and promise but also fear of change and concern about the unknown. Sometimes stress can be motivating and positive, like taking …
Video: Our community’s youth have a chance!
Our community’s youth are strong, passionate and compassionate. Family Service of Roanoke Valley provides life skills education to students of all ages. We meet them where they are–in school, after school and community center sites. Partnerships include those in our collaborative Strengthening Youth Opportunities for Success initiative, as well as others across Roanoke City. Positive …
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