ABNB Community Foundation, ABNBFCU and Vaughn’s Way Partner to Support Local Communities Across Hampton Roads
Chesapeake, Va. — In 2025, the ABNB Community Foundation partnered with ABNB Federal Credit Union (ABNBFCU) and Vaughn’s Way Inc., a Hampton Roads–based nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for men facing mental health challenges, to launch a community wide comfort drive benefiting local individuals and families in need.
The partnership began with a personal connection. Vaughn’s Way co-founder Tasha Holmes-Parker, a longtime ABNBFCU member, connected with Kristen Howie, an ABNB branch manager, after their sons crossed paths at a football camp hosted by Holmes-Parker’s son, Jalyn. What started as a simple donation request quickly grew into a collaborative effort that mobilized all 14 ABNB branches across seven cities in two states.
Over the three-week campaign, the ABNB Community Foundation, ABNBFCU, and Vaughn’s Way promoted the drive through a coordinated outreach effort that included member emails, a joint social media drip campaign, in-branch displays and digital screens, decorated collection boxes, website banners, app-based pop-up messaging, and community word-of-mouth. With one in seven neighbors living below the poverty line, the need for everyday items was urgent. Donations included essentials such as toothpaste, mouthwash, socks, and first-aid kits.
ABNBFCU members responded with overwhelming generosity. Together, the partners more than doubled their original goal of 150 comfort bags, collecting enough supplies to assemble 320 bags. One member even contributed by hand-knitting more than 40 hats.
“I was overwhelmed. I did not expect to have this many items,” said Holmes-Parker.
The effort culminated at a Comfort Drive hosted at Grace Awakening Church in Portsmouth, where 270 toiletry bags were distributed directly to individuals and families in need. Vaughn’s Way extended the reach of the initiative by delivering the remaining bags to Union Mission Ministries, a nonprofit that has previously received grant support from the ABNB Community Foundation.
“It wasn’t just the employees, it was the community, and I can’t be more proud of ABNB,” said Howie. "It was a great relief to have a company step in and say, ‘I want to do this,’” Holmes-Parker added.
The initiative reflects ABNB’s ongoing commitment to community partnership and its cooperative mission of people helping people.
About Vaughn’s Way Inc.
Vaughn’s Way Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization inspired by the legacy of Vaughn Parker, Jr. Vaughn’s Way, Inc. was founded with the goal to raise awareness and provide support for men's mental health.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Vaughns-Way-Inc-61563161814495/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaughns_way/
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/lUYftkj9tAQ
