The Giving Heart

10/23/2025

Good morning everyone :)

Although I'm no longer involved with the Giving Heart (retired and living in Las Vegas!), I wanted to pass on some Thanksgiving information that I know for this year...

Please go BACK to the old website - www.thegivingheart.org and you will find various updates on the greatly improved website. Here you will find all of the latest information for your use in donating or volunteering.

MOST IMPORTANT: On the website, there is a link to sign up for the newsletter. 2 years ago, the newsletter was completely purged so everyone needs to sign up again. (IF YOU haven't received a newsletter recently, I would strongly encourage you to sign back up for the newsletter). This is usually the most up-to-date information. Signing up for the newsletter will alert you to WHEN YOU CAN sign up to volunteer. BTW...table hosting has returned, as well as our Friends of the Feast donations where you can highlight your family, business, Church or simply do a memorial for a loved one.

On a more personal note, our son (Matthew Neilson) who spent many years helping at the Feast, passed away unexpectedly on Easter Sunday from cancer. We'll be remembering him as one of the Friends of the Feast table sponsors this year so if you attend, please take a moment to find his name among the table sponsors this year :) The Friends link will come up soon and again, info will also come through the newsletter.

Thank you for all the support that has come to The Giving Heart and HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY!

Vicki Neilson

09/25/2025

"The Giving Heart will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast. Stay tuned for upcoming notices and announcements."

10/30/2024

COMMUNITY, SUPPORT, EVENTS, INFORMATION
We are thrilled to announce that The Giving Heart's new website is now live! This exciting update is designed to foster a deeper connection within our community and provide you with easy access to essential information. As we approach the season of gratitude, we want to invite you to explore the latest updates about our Thanksgiving Day Feast. This cherished event is not just about sharing a meal; it’s about coming together as a community to support one another. Whether you’re looking for assistance or ways to lend a helping hand, our website is here to guide you. Join us in making a difference this holiday season and stay informed about upcoming events that celebrate the spirit of giving.

VISIT US AT - https://the-giving-heart-steel.vercel.app/

09/10/2024

REMINDER: Don't forget to resubscribe to the newsletter to keep your email address updated for volunteer opportunities. Signups happen around mid-October and the new volunteers are working to get the latest information available ASAP. Here is the link to our page...if you haven't filled out the newsletter subscription form in the last 4-6 weeks...you need to fill the form out again. Thanks!

Richmond Va's Thanksgiving Feast and Senior Gift Bags

08/10/2024

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

We have purged ALL EMAIL ADDRESSES that were previously subscribed to our newsletter and now is the time to either re-subscribe or to sign up as a new subscriber.

This cleanup effort will allow us to better ascertain the interest in our volunteer needs by removing blocked, unwanted, or old email addresses. It will also eliminate multiple email addresses for one individual - an economical savings for The Giving Heart.

If you are interested in receiving volunteer information related to our Community Thanksgiving Feast and/or Secret Senior Valentine Bags, you MUST SUBSCRIBE.

Sign up with your PRIMARY email address. This would be the one that you are able to access 24/7, including evenings and weekends.
Visit www.thegivingheart.org and scroll to the bottom to fill out the newsletter signup form.

Reminder: Subscribing to the newsletter allows you to receive priority notice for volunteer signups. There is a delay for anyone who ONLY likes our page or for those who go directly to the website as the signup forms are generated from a different place. Make sure you don't miss out!

Richmond Va's Thanksgiving Feast and Senior Gift Bags

06/29/2024

The Giving Heart extends its sympathies to the family of Hanover County's Sargeant James McLaughlin. Jim was the catalyst for our Secret Senior Valentine Bag Program which started back in 2005, gifting 21 Seniors that were adopted by Hanover County Deputies. What a wonderful human being and a pleasure to have worked with.

02/14/2024

The Giving Heart wishes to extend their deepest sympathy to the family of Meri Nguyen-Otten who spent a number of years helping us with the overall Distribution Area. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone, especially her young daughter Lexi. The link to her obituary is noted below. I'm so sorry for this news.

View Thuy "Meri" Nguyen-Otten's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

01/25/2024

Help us meet our goal for 2024! https://conta.cc/4977053

01/19/2024

We've updated some of the "group" Valentine Bag requests for anyone interested in making entire group bags. For those that want a smaller project, feel free to sign up for the singular female, male and unisex bags. Thank you for helping to continue our Secret Senior Valentine surprises throughout the Greater Richmond area. Feel free to share this to others!

Group and individual signups are now available for our 2024 Secret Senior Valentine Bag project. Delivery opportunites will be available later through our next newsletter and on our website. (If you haven't subscribed, please visit www.thegivingheart.org and at the bottom of the page, you will see o...

01/17/2024

Check out our Secret Senior Valentine Needs, including links to send donations to The Giving Heart! https://conta.cc/3O2qv6D

  Secret Senior Valentine Signups Signups for the 2024 Secret Senior Valentine Bag Project are now available. This project provides independently living Seniors with a reminder of how much they are ap

11/21/2023

I see a few openings in the Service areas (Food Plating and Guest Assistance). Check out the "Service and Distribution" link:

(If you want to help with the FOOD PREPARATIONS on Thanksgiving Day, those signups are available under our FOOD PREPARATIONS tab. That particular signup is to work IN THE KITCHEN. If you want to plate the food on Thanksgiving Day, look for the "Food Plating" listing on this form!) READ ALL INSTRUCTI...

11/20/2023

FYI....Curbside pickup requests will close at 12 noon on Tuesday. Also, please continue to check for any volunteer openings. There are 3 Wednesday Setup and 1 Youth Ambassador currently opened.

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS TO AVOID APPLICATION BEING REJECTED! If interested in assisting with food preparations, please check back for any cancellations if the slots are filled up! SPECIAL NOTE: On this particular form, the "Thursday" slots are for FOOD PREP. If you are interested in our food plating,....