Our Impact: Stories

HOUSTON, TX – For most of his adult life, Birthon built his career around hard work, precision and physical endurance. A U.S. Army veteran who served from 1976 to 1979, Birthon left the military with an honorable discharge and went on to become a millwright. For decades, he worked in a role that required strength, stamina and long hours, the kind of work that kept him busy and proud. But as the years passed, the job became more than just demanding. It became unsustainable. Birthon reached a point where continuing as a millwright was simply too hard on his body….

Jimmy’s path to stability wasn’t easy. For more than three years, he experienced homelessness in several Texas cities — Willis, Wichita Falls, and finally Conroe — where he often slept on the sidewalk next to a concrete barrier along State Highway 105 West. “Times were tough,” he said. “Sometimes I was bullied, never felt safe, and lived outside in the elements.” Everything changed one afternoon after a simple meal at a nearby Hartz Chicken. Jimmy met with his Tri-County caseworker, who accompanied him to the Volunteers of America Texas office seeking housing assistance. There, he met Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)…

Tamyka thought the worst was behind her when she left the Army in 2010. Years later, a seizure behind the wheel sent her car into a highway median, cost her a job and forced her to ask for help she had long avoided. “I’m grateful I reached out,” she said. “I needed to support my family, and I couldn’t do it alone.” From Combat Medic to Civilian Life Tamyka served from 2003 to 2010 as a sergeant combat medic, including a deployment to Iraq. The work demanded split-second decisions and steady hands. Back home, a different battle began. The corporate…

For nearly two decades, Rene has been a familiar face at H-E-B, greeting customers, bagging groceries, stocking shelves and gathering carts from the parking lot. This year, his dedication was recognized with an award and $100 for 19 years of service. Behind that achievement is a story of resilience and support. For nearly 15 years, Rene has received help from Volunteers of America Texas through its Vocational Opportunity and Training Services program. The program provides him with two to four hours of job coaching each week, depending on his needs, helping him navigate the ups and downs of part-time work….

HOUSTON — When Lina walked through the doors of the Volunteers of America Texas in Houston, she carried more than the weight of her books. She carried the loss of her father, who was murdered, and the scars of a turbulent relationship that left her displaced and searching for stability. Despite the heartbreak, Lina was determined to build a different future. Referred through the Harris County Department of Community Supervision, she became one of the first participants in the Disabilities Workforce Program–Teach Reach at VOA Texas. With guidance and resources from the program, Lina enrolled at Houston Community College to…

Forth Worth, TX (VOA Texas) – When Brenda Tolliver returned home from Saudi Arabia after serving in the Army during Desert Storm, she carried more than just memories of her deployment. She carried an invisible wound—one that would shape her journey for decades: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lingering Sirens Brenda first noticed the signs shortly after leaving the military in 1992. She had just given birth to her son and was driving through her neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee when a siren pierced the air—eerily similar to the ones that signaled scud missile attacks during her time in the Middle East….

Tim Lloyd was just 11 years old when his childhood was abruptly torn apart. After his parents’ divorce, his mother remarried—and the man she chose became Lloyd’s abuser. “For years, I lived in fear,” said Lloyd, now 62. “From the time I was 11 until I was 18, I was physically and mentally abused by my stepfather.” Despite the chaos, Lloyd found a glimmer of hope when a friend’s family took him in during his senior year of high school. He graduated, started to rebuild, but the trauma lingered. Finding Belonging in the Wrong Places “I got caught up in…

Each morning, Marlena begins her day with gratitude. “First, I thank God for waking me up and giving me another chance,” she said. It’s a routine she never imagined she’d have just a few years ago, when survival meant searching for food in trash cans and spending every dollar on drugs. Marlena’s life took a downward spiral in 2019 after returning home to care for her aging parents. When they passed away, grief pulled her back into addiction. Crack cocaine consumed her days, and as her resources dwindled, so did her stability. She lost her home, enduring years of homelessness—sleeping…

On any given day, Lyndon, 38, can be found doing what he loves most—talking about sports. Whether reminiscing about his time as an assistant coach at John H. Guyer High School in Denton, TX, celebrating his Hall of Fame induction for weightlifting, or competing with his Special Olympics bowling team, his passion is unmistakable. But Lyndon’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Diagnosed with down syndrome, arrhythmia, hypothyroidism, and a history of blood clots and gout, he has faced significant health hurdles. Additionally, the passing of his mother during the COVID-19 pandemic left an emotional void that has been difficult to…

Step into a unique program helping incarcerated expectant moms in Texas. They join at seven months pregnant, learn about childbirth and parenting, and bond with their babies for three months. Then, they plan for their child’s care with trusted guardians before returning to jail. Explore their inspiring stories of love and resilience. Stephanie Flores Perez Q: Why are you incarcerated? A: I am incarcerated because I was transporting illegal people. Q: How did you learn about the VOA Texas MINT program? A: I heard about the VOA Texas MINT program after finding out I was pregnant at five months. Q:…