THE GIVING HEART - RICHMOND, VIRGINIA |
The Giving Heart 11527 Primrose Lane Rockville, Va. 23146 (804) 749-4726
| Giving Bags |
Imagine how one small bag can make a large difference… The Giving Bag Project began as a distribution project during The Giving Heart’s 2007 Community Thanksgiving Feast. To date, over 3000 Giving Bags have found their way into the hands of many in the Greater Richmond Metropolitan area. This year-round project allows individuals, families and groups to help us continue providing small items to the needy, the elderly, the disabled and homeless. As we broaden this project to meet year-round needs, we will partner with other organizations to collaborate on ways to reach further into the community, serving those who would otherwise go without. Three Ways to Donate Giving Bags: 1. Create a basic "Essential" Bag that contains 7 items inside a reusable bag. 2. Create a "theme or specialty" Bag that contains the 7 essential items plus 2-4 items of your choosing. 3. Provide donations of specific products. Essential Bags contain 7 items in a reusable bag - Toothbrush Toothpaste Nonbreakable Beverage Nutritious Snack Shampoo Deodorant Soap Click here to download a copy of our Giving Bag flier. You'll find our essential 7 list, ideas for creating theme bags and suggestions for items that would make a great collection project. Let us know if you have other donations, including bulk items, beyond what is listed for the giving bag needs. We are happy to assist in accepting and distributing other items. Click on the "contact us" link to the right or give us a call at 804-749-4726 for more information. (Note: We strongly encourage using bags that can be used for other needs such as backpacks, duffel bags and recycled tote bags. These are especially effective for children and those within the homeless community.) If you or your group would like to volunteer with our sorting or bag-making process, please send a note to us at givingbags@thegivingheart.org. |
Special Needs for February and March: Hats Gloves Socks Blankets Reusable Bags Our 7 "Essential" Items Giving Bags are distributed year-round by identifying those in need around the Greater Richmond Metropolitan Area, and at the Community Thanksgiving Feast. |
Want to donate a Giving Bag? Contact us here. |
Special thanks to past and present contributors who help to make our Giving Bag Project a success in the community. |
A Story To Share:
There are so many stories about how people have become involved in what The Giving Heart is doing in the community. With
permission, we'd like to share a note that was recently received by John and Brenda Birkitt....
Just wanted to let you know that our family will be participating in the "Giving Heart" bag project again this year. This is a
project that we started last year as a family in memory of our son, Johnny Birkitt, who passed away on January 13, 2007 of a
fatal heart arrhythmia. Our Thanksgiving will never be the same without Johnny. My husband, John and I started serving at
the Community Thanksgiving dinner in 2007 and this will be our third year helping on Thanksgiving day. It is a wonderful
community event and we are so blessed to be a part of it. We thought the bags would be a great opportunity for our family
and friends to help as a whole. We get together for an early Thanksgiving dinner and bring all of our items. After dinner we
put together the bags. In 2008, we were able to put together 112 bags for those less fortunate than us. Two of Johnny's
close friends, Tommy and Maria, helped make last years project such a tremendous success. We are looking forward to this
being our biggest year of participation so far. This year our granddaughters, Kaylee & Kami, 3 and 4 will be involved in a kids
bazaar to sell items and will be using the money to buy gifts to put in bags for children. The girls colored pictures last year
for some of the bags and I'm sure they'll be busy with that again.
This gives us the chance to carry on the caring heart of Johnny and do something meaningful for someone else.
I know it is helping someone in need - that is why we do this - but it is our family that is blessed in the process.
Thank you for all you do in putting this together. We thank you for the bottom of our hearts.
There are so many stories about how people have become involved in what The Giving Heart is doing in the community. With
permission, we'd like to share a note that was recently received by John and Brenda Birkitt....
Just wanted to let you know that our family will be participating in the "Giving Heart" bag project again this year. This is a
project that we started last year as a family in memory of our son, Johnny Birkitt, who passed away on January 13, 2007 of a
fatal heart arrhythmia. Our Thanksgiving will never be the same without Johnny. My husband, John and I started serving at
the Community Thanksgiving dinner in 2007 and this will be our third year helping on Thanksgiving day. It is a wonderful
community event and we are so blessed to be a part of it. We thought the bags would be a great opportunity for our family
and friends to help as a whole. We get together for an early Thanksgiving dinner and bring all of our items. After dinner we
put together the bags. In 2008, we were able to put together 112 bags for those less fortunate than us. Two of Johnny's
close friends, Tommy and Maria, helped make last years project such a tremendous success. We are looking forward to this
being our biggest year of participation so far. This year our granddaughters, Kaylee & Kami, 3 and 4 will be involved in a kids
bazaar to sell items and will be using the money to buy gifts to put in bags for children. The girls colored pictures last year
for some of the bags and I'm sure they'll be busy with that again.
This gives us the chance to carry on the caring heart of Johnny and do something meaningful for someone else.
I know it is helping someone in need - that is why we do this - but it is our family that is blessed in the process.
Thank you for all you do in putting this together. We thank you for the bottom of our hearts.