Identifying Collaborative Solutions

As the Health & Hunger Specialist at the Good Neighbor House, DaJuana Davis has had an impact across multiple areas of her organization! She has strengthened her site’s volunteer program and worked to secure funding and gifts for the Good Neighbor House Christmas Family adoption program. Later in her service, she plans to launch a new meal delivery program for shut-in clients lacking access to typical meal programs.

So far in her service, one of DaJuana’s largest contributions has been creating documents and reference guides that direct clients to needed resources in the community. A reference sheet DaJuana created is now utilized by every department within the organization and includes every kind of service, ranging from other pantries, to rental assistance, to clothing closets. DaJuana looks forward to taking this guide with her wherever she goes beyond her service.

“I plan to carry this into my future by circulating this document to other outside organizations which can update it and add to it any other entities they may know of,” she says.

As a VISTA, one of DaJuana’s most significant challenges has been sustaining new volunteers and funding as her organization’s services grow to meet the rising need in the community.

“Our numbers for clients being served is climbing on a day-to-day basis,” she says. “The number of new clients which have never used a pantry is up by 25 percent and rising.”

To meet the need and build the Good Neighbor House’s capacity to meet it, DaJuana is currently researching grant opportunities.

DaJuana has been grateful for the opportunity to serve in AmeriCorps, and she looks forward to completing a second term as a VISTA! Serving has opened her eyes to the ways that multiple service providers must work together to fully meet client needs.

“My experience serving those in poverty has changed me professionally in that my perspective on what is available and what is needed are truly diverse initiatives,” she says. “While there are programs which exist to provide some basic items, clients’ true needs require the assistance of many organizations working together as a whole. I would love to create partnerships that would allow for the clients’ full needs to be met in one encounter. For instance, clothing, food, furniture, and linens all in one service encounter.”

Looking to the future, DaJuana hopes to pursue a business degree as she continues to serve her community.

“I would absolutely recommend national service to others,” she says. “It’s rewarding, challenging, eventful, engaging, and compassion filled.”

Thanks for making an impact, DaJuana!