WORDS: Shannon Evans
MAIN PHOTO: Katelyn Disbro
Hope. A small word with life-changing power—and it’s what Tim Pedon has dedicated his life to sharing. As a Program Specialist at Volunteers of America (VOA) Florida, Tim helps others discover the hope that turned his life around.
In the mid-1990s, Tim walked a road of significant mental health challenges. Feeling unmoored and in need of stability, he turned to VOA, which helped him with housing, offered mentorship, and provided structure to his days. With the guidance of Melissa Tuller, an Independent Living Coach at VOA Florida, Tim learned to set goals and began charting a new path forward.
“Melissa worked with me when I had trouble making decisions,” Tim says. “Her encouragement and support gave me the confidence to take one step at a time.” Tim’s situation vastly improved when he received the right medication, which added much-needed balance and clarity. “That was a game-changer,” he says. “It gave me the foundation to start rebuilding my life.”
Now, through his work at VOA Florida, Tim walks alongside others as they navigate their own journeys toward independence and confidence.
Practical and Personal
VOA Florida is part of a nationwide faith-based nonprofit with a remarkable legacy. Founded in 1896 by Ballington and Maud Booth—the son and daughter-in-law of Salvation Army founder William Booth—Volunteers of America has grown into one of the most respected human services networks in the U.S. It offers programs in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, impacting the lives of 1.5 million people annually.
In Florida, VOA serves over 5,000 people each year—those navigating mental health struggles, housing instability, and financial hardship. Through housing assistance, healthcare, job training, and mentorship, the programs give participants practical solutions while moving them toward long-term growth.
Besides practical support, VOA Florida shines brightest because of its personal approach. The staff and volunteers take the time to connect with every person in the program, supporting them in ways that fit their unique needs. This kind of care builds trust and creates space for real, meaningful change—exactly what happened for Tim, through Melissa Tuller.
“Care plans are individualized,” Melissa says. “We don’t tell people what should be on their plan. Instead, we help them figure out what they need and how to move forward.” That might mean learning how to cook, create a budget, take driving lessons, or even return to school. “One of my former clients had a goal on every care plan: ‘I want to write a book.’ It took her ten years, but she’s now a published author—she’s written four books now. We just went to her book signing.”
Tim’s progress was just as significant, and Melissa has had a front-row seat to his transformation. “He was my first client in 1995, and he’s come a long way in 30 years,” she says. “His strong family support played a big role in his recovery, but his motivation, compassion, and empathy are what really made the difference.” Now, Melissa explains, Tim’s experience allows him to reach people in ways other staff can’t. “Often our clients will say, ‘You don’t understand. You’re not mentally ill.’ But Tim can walk right in and say, ‘Actually, I’ve been where you are. I know what it’s like.’ And they listen to him because he’s lived it.”
Through the years, Melissa and the VOA team have celebrated Tim’s many milestones. “We watched him become a minister—one of his lifelong dreams,” she says. “We went to his wedding, too.” Seeing Tim build a life of purpose and service has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career.
Coming Full Circle
Today, Tim manages VOA’s drop-in center, a friendly space where people can join workshops, build confidence, and access resources. The center runs programs on things like stress management, self-esteem, and even finding joy in everyday life—crucial tools needed to tackle life’s ups and downs.
Tim also leads volunteers in community service projects. Twice a month, he takes participants to the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Manatee County, where they—Tim included—label books for the ELC’s ReadingPals program. At All Faiths Food Bank, he and his team sort donations and prepare food for families in need. Through Keep Manatee Beautiful, Tim organizes roadside cleanups along adopted roads in Bradenton, an effort that earned them the Adopt a Road Program’s Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2008.
“This is about more than just the work itself,” Tim says. “It’s about showing participants how their efforts matter. It’s giving them a chance to be part of something bigger.”
Outside of his role with VOA, Tim devotes his time to causes that reflect his passion for service and community. As a ReadingPals mentor, he spent two years working one-on-one with preschoolers to help develop their early literacy skills. On Sunday afternoons, Tim serves as a hospital chaplain at Blake Medical Center, offering spiritual and emotional support to patients in some of their most vulnerable moments. Tim’s faith also guides his involvement at United Presbyterian Church, where he has served as an elder and now as a deacon and liturgist.
Reflecting on his own journey, Tim sees his work as both a privilege and a responsibility. “Having been through mental illness myself,” he says, “I feel it’s only right that I devote myself to helping others recover. It’s not all about ourselves. True fulfillment comes from serving others.”
Volunteers of America Florida has no better ambassador than Tim Pedon. His life reflects their guiding principle: Real change doesn’t often happen all at once, but through steady, long-term care and intentional acts of kindness. As for Tim, he has discovered the tremendous impact of showing up, day after day, for people who need someone to believe in them.
- For more information about Volunteers of America Florida, visit voaflorida.org.
