Volunteering - Groups Versus Individuals

The Giving Heart is incredibly blessed with the number of people who want to volunteer during the Community Thanksgiving Feast.  With few exceptions, we don't hold slots...preferring to always allow EVERYONE the opportunity to become part of our event.

Whether you are a group, individual, a family or a couple....there is something for everyone BUT sometimes what you may want to do is not possible with the way our application process is set up.  Below is our recommendation to use as a guideline for volunteering.  Please also check our volunteer description page for more details regarding the role, age restrictions and even any time constraints.

Individuals, Couples

Any slot that you see is available as long as you are within the age guidelines and are able to be present during the times noted.  A few things to consider:
  • If you are a family with children UNDER 14, the ONLY position available on Thanksgiving Day is to be a Table Host.  Our Wednesday setup is another opportunity.  If you have teens 14 and older, they are welcome to be enrolled as a Youth Ambassador if space permits and thus, allow you more choices for your own volunteering.  (side note:  we will also have available a few "youth ambassador adult helper" slots that you might enjoy as well).
  • Positions within Service Areas, Distribution Room and Youth Ambassadors require ONE application per person.
  • Many applications also restrict the number of times that you can use the same email address. 
  • You will see "real time" listings when the applications become available.  This includes such things as number of positions that remain and the area of volunteering.  We respectfully request that you take the time to return to our signup form to make any cancellations.  This will allow others to immediately see that there may be slots for them after all.
  • You cannot make name changes to any of the Service, Distribution or Youth Ambassador positions.  Cancellations are only accepted - no substitutions.
  • If you are signing up as a Table Host, you create one application for yourself/family/friends.  Name changes and additional people at your table are permitted as long as it does not result in needing an additional table.  If that's the case, your family/friends may run the risk of dining in separate areas if we are unable to seat you together.  EVERYONE must have a copy of their table information or their name must be on the form (if not arriving with you) so that we can help in letting them know where to report in the dining room.
  • If you are a single person or single parent, we have set aside several "party tables" if you are volunteering for a table host role.  You are matched appropriately with others to share in the table hosting duties.  There is an area within the application for you to indicate your single status.
  • As a reminder, all roles require a commitment from start to finish as identified on the signup form.  If you CANNOT stay until the end of your role, please find a position that allows you the ability to leave early as they are noted on our application form.
  • If you are Table Hosting and you have someone serving as a Youth Ambassador, please note that your student must remain until the end of the day and not leave when you have finished dining with guests.  

Groups
We understand that some of you want to "represent" your group and be in control of your own signups.  But here are some things to understand and hopefully this will help you to decide which is the better way to work with The Giving Hearts AND your respective group.
  • When we go live with applications, ONLY THOSE who sign up for our newsletter are allowed to sign up during the first 4 hours.  This means that if you have a bunch of people (beyond the 2-3 that are allowed per email address), you will NOT be able to sign them up unless they too have signed up for our newsletter.  An exception to this is positions that allow for a group signup (i.e., table host, bus ambassadors, Wednesday setup).
  • If you choose to be the person filling everyone's application (whether they signed up for the newsletter or you will be signing them up after the initial 4 hour period), please keep in mind that you are one of many others selecting what slots are still shown.  If you are trying to fill out a form for 10 different people, chances are that someone else is also online and your desire to work in one area together may be hindered because of the amount of time it would take one person to fill out every application.  It is for this reason that we highly recommend simply telling your group members to sign up for our newsletter and fill out their own forms.  If they really want to do the same stuff, you can always pre-select a few things and tell them that these are the slots that you are hoping to fill.
  • If you are using your email address for anyone else, please keep in mind that it becomes your responsibility to relay information, including their area to report to.  This is particularly critical with the Table Hosting area.  While all others have the individual application and thus, we can look up those names if they forget to bring their check in information...the Table Hosting is different.  We use the names that you provide.  So if you change a name without notifying us - and you don't give them their table assignment information....there is no way that we can help them to get to the proper table.  We do not list group or church names so you will need to ensure that you have the correct information for us to assist anyone.

Hopefully some of the information noted above will help you to understand what type of signup you want to do for your particular situation.  If you want others to sign up for our newsletter and be able to participate in our early-bird signups, have them visit www.thegivingheart.org, scroll to the bottom and fill out the newsletter form.
DONATION DROP OFF LOCATIONS NOW AVAILABLE

Our first drop off locations are now available.  Watch for additional places around our area.  If you are interested in accepting donations at your address, please contact The Giving Heart and we'll be happy to share your information.

MURPHY'S LAW (collecting through the end of October)
Chesterfield Meadows Shopping Center
6411 Chesterfield Meadows Drive
Chesterfield, Va.  23832
Monday-Friday:  11 am to 2 am
Saturday-Sunday: 12 noon to 2 am

COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE OF RICHMOND (collecting through Nov. 17th)
4190 Dominion Boulevard
Glen Allen, Va.  23060 
Monday-Friday:  7 am to 6 pm
Saturday: 7 am to 5 pm

Coming Soon:  City of Richmond Collection Event.  Details shortly.

Volunteer Links Now Available

The following areas are now available for signups.  Others will become available in mid-October. 

Haircuts and Resource Application - This application covers barbers, stylists, medical-oriented groups and nonprofits/companies who would like to share their information to guests and volunteers attending the Community Thanksgiving Feast.  18 and older unless permission has been given by The Giving Heart.

Entertainer Application - This application is for those who would like to offer various types of entertainment to our guests and volunteers.  We offer the opportunity to present dance, acoustic-low sound entertainment, musicians, singers and other ideas that you might have to offer.

2018 Thanksgiving Feast Table Sponsors

Thank you to those who support our Community Event...more to come!  


Thanksgiving Blessings - Stan and Karen Wright
Eda H. Cabaniss Charitable Lead Unitrust
Happy Thanksgiving - Felix Sarfo-Kantanka, Jr.
Thanksgiving Wishes - Mainfreight Employees

Interested in becoming a Table Sponsor?  This provides your company, Church, or group name on at least one of our dining tables, mention on our newsletters and a listing on our website.  Additionally, individuals and families can offer Thanksgiving wishes, make a dedication or send a shout out.  Visit our Table Sponsor page to become part of this wonderful way to support us.

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