Victory House

Pros

• The people are very nice.
• The staff are friendly.
• The staff do a good job of providing basic needs.
• It offers a temporary safe place for kids in need.

Cons

• The place isn't fun.
• The inside isn't shiny and new.
• The ranch isn't fun.

Review

I used to stay there, and I graduated from the program in 2000. I carry those memories with me because they're tied to a time and place where people genuinely cared about you, even when the surroundings weren't glamorous. The folks I met there were very nice, the kind of people who showed up with calm steady warmth even on tough days. Those memories linger not because the building was fancy, but because of the way the staff treated us and the sense of safety they somehow managed to foster.

This place functions as a shelter for kids who need a temporary safe space. It relies on donations, so the inside isn't shiny and new, and you can feel the hand-me-down nature of the facilities that come with a tight budget. It's not a showroom, but it's clean, functional, and adequate for the purpose it serves. The thoughtful, practical commitments behind the walls - and the donations that make those commitments possible - are what keep the place going. It's not about luxuries; it's about shelter, stability, and a way to get from one chapter to the next.

Each kid's story is different as to how they ended up needing shelter, and that variation is part of the daily reality there. Some arrive with what feels like an entire lifetimes' worth of upheaval to unpack; others are simply at a crossroads where staying put isn't safe or feasible anymore. The staff does a good job of providing the basics - food, clothing, a bed, a supportive routine - while everyone sorts through the questions of what comes next. They're conscientious about moving kids toward a more permanent situation, helping with plans and connections that can lead to a real foothold outside the shelter.

Across the board, I always found the staff to be friendly. They greeted you with courtesy, listened when you needed to talk, and kept boundaries clear without feeling cold. There's a genuine kindness in the way they interact day to day, a sense that they're not just ticking boxes but trying to understand where you're coming from. It's that combination of steadiness and warmth that made the place feel like a haven rather than a holding cell, even though the environment itself was decidedly plain.

This place ain't fun, at least not in the way kids expect fun to feel. It isn't a playground; it isn't a vacation; it isn't a place to forget your worries for a afternoon. The atmosphere is more sober and practical, focused on safety, nourishment, and the long road toward something steadier. Some might describe it as "not a fun ranch," a rough-and-ready sort of space that emphasizes the seriousness of the situations that brought the kids there in the first place. It's a shelter built for resilience, not entertainment, and that distinction matters.

Yet within that sober framework there is a quiet, persistent sense of care. The staff's kindness stands out again and again, even in moments that might feel overwhelming for a young person. Their friendliness isn't about sugarcoating hardship; it's about offering a steady, reliable presence that kids can lean on while they navigate complicated transitions. The contrast between the austere setting and the compassionate behavior of the people who run the place leaves a lasting impression: support that is practical, consistent, and emotionally intelligible.

In the end, the overall impression is one of respect for what such a shelter can accomplish. It isn't about comfort or glamour; it's about safety, basic needs met, and a pathway forward lined up with the help of people who genuinely care. The fact that I remember the staff as "very nice" years later speaks to the impact of those simpler, human interactions - the kind that quietly sustains a family during a difficult chapter. Donors and supporters who keep the lights on and the essentials stocked also deserve credit, because their contributions translate directly into the steadier lifeline that makes transition possible for each child who passes through.

If you're looking for a concise takeaway, it's this: the shelter isn't a place designed for enjoyment, but for protection and progression. It provides the essentials with a sense of dignity, guided by staff who treat every child with kindness and respect. The stories brought through its doors are diverse and often challenging, yet the core message - care, stability, and a path to something better - remains steady. For those who have come through it, the experience can feel transformative precisely because it wasn't about glamour; it was about getting from today to tomorrow, with people who believed in you along the way.

Restaurants

• Subway (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (3.7 miles)
• Geet's Diner (3.8 miles)
• Mr Bill's Restaurant (5 miles)
• Wendy's (6.4 miles)
• Cinder Bar (6.4 miles)
• Pegasus Restaurant (6.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (5.4 miles)
• Jolin's Pharmacy (5.5 miles)
• Express Savings Pharmacy (5.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (5.7 miles)

Physicians

• Kressville Pediatrics (5.6 miles)
• Advocare Atrium Pediatrics (6.4 miles)
• Regional Orthopedics (6.5 miles)
• Altman & Gerety Family Medical Associates (8 miles)
• Phila Gastroenterology Group (8.3 miles)
• Internal Medicine Associates of Southern New Jersey (8.3 miles)
• Cumberland Obstetrics & Gynecology PA (8.8 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Ua Washington Township (6.2 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (7.4 miles)
• Starbucks (7.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Charles Boromeo Catholic Church (7.9 miles)
• Higher Places Ministry (11.2 miles)

Parks

• Washington Lake Park (9.9 miles)
• Giampetro Park (11 miles)

Hospitals

• Virtua Berlin Hospital (10.2 miles)
• Vineland Developmental Center Employees Association (10.7 miles)