Heartfelt Voices — Stories of Hope and Connection
Every smile, every massage, and every shared moment tells a story. At Heartfelt Community, the connections we create reach beyond service, they inspire transformation. Read what our volunteers, families, and community members have to say about the impact of heartfelt giving.
“When Heartfelt Community volunteers come to visit our residents on Memory Care and Abingdon Units, our residents are so happy to have conversations with them and to see new faces. They enjoy the hand massages and always have a smile on their faces.
One of my residents cried quite a bit but when the volunteer sat down to massage her hands, she calmed down and chatted with her.
It always brightens my day when the volunteers come because I like seeing my residents talk and laugh with them. It puts them in a good frame of mind which gives a positive environment all around.
I am so grateful for this organization. They are wonderful, always upbeat and with smiles on their faces, willing to sit and have a conversation with those that never receive visitors and are very compassionate.
I would highly recommend Heartfelt Community to any facility. They are very uplifting, full of joy and are very caring and a bright light in the darkness. I thank God they have this relationship with our facility.”
One of my residents cried quite a bit but when the volunteer sat down to massage her hands, she calmed down and chatted with her.
It always brightens my day when the volunteers come because I like seeing my residents talk and laugh with them. It puts them in a good frame of mind which gives a positive environment all around.
I am so grateful for this organization. They are wonderful, always upbeat and with smiles on their faces, willing to sit and have a conversation with those that never receive visitors and are very compassionate.
I would highly recommend Heartfelt Community to any facility. They are very uplifting, full of joy and are very caring and a bright light in the darkness. I thank God they have this relationship with our facility.”
Edith Walters, Life Enrichment Assistant
“Heartfelt Community provides companionship and regular social interaction, which is vital for combating the isolation that many elderly experience. It also fosters new friendships and support which are especially important for those who may not have much family contact. In addition, they offer a listening ear to provide emotional support and reassurance during times of change or loss.
It was shared with me how one of the volunteers was with a resident that normally refuses to allow her hands to be massaged, asking, ‘Is this where hand massage is?’ The residents look forward to each week and share how much their hands feel after the massage. Especially how the massages alleviated pain associated with conditions like arthritis and reduced general stiffness.
Their help frees staff by providing one-on-one visits, especially with residents who prefer not to participate in group settings. The volunteers make a tangible difference by offering a friendly face and a listening ear, which helps create a more welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
It’s incredibly motivating to see people from Heartfelt Community dedicate their time. It fosters a sense of shared purpose and gratitude within the team. Their selfless dedication is a powerful reminder of why we do the work we do. It’s a constant source of inspiration for staff.
The impact has been phenomenal, and I see the value it brings to the residents and feeling more connected to our company’s mission by putting our customers at the heart of all we do by continually addressing their expectations: Keep Me Safe. Help Heal Me. Be Kind to Me. Respect My Wishes.”
It was shared with me how one of the volunteers was with a resident that normally refuses to allow her hands to be massaged, asking, ‘Is this where hand massage is?’ The residents look forward to each week and share how much their hands feel after the massage. Especially how the massages alleviated pain associated with conditions like arthritis and reduced general stiffness.
Their help frees staff by providing one-on-one visits, especially with residents who prefer not to participate in group settings. The volunteers make a tangible difference by offering a friendly face and a listening ear, which helps create a more welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
It’s incredibly motivating to see people from Heartfelt Community dedicate their time. It fosters a sense of shared purpose and gratitude within the team. Their selfless dedication is a powerful reminder of why we do the work we do. It’s a constant source of inspiration for staff.
The impact has been phenomenal, and I see the value it brings to the residents and feeling more connected to our company’s mission by putting our customers at the heart of all we do by continually addressing their expectations: Keep Me Safe. Help Heal Me. Be Kind to Me. Respect My Wishes.”
Rhonda, Activities at Riverside Sanders
"At a local independent living facility, we were offering lotion to the hands of the residents. I had a gentleman come down, and we offered him the service. In a grumpy voice he asked, "Now why would I want to do that?" I replied, "Because it feels good! You can try, and if you like it we will continue, but if you don't we will stop." He agreed and I massaged his hands for no more than five minutes. When I finished, he took my hands in his and raised our hands to his face, and he kissed them. He looked me in the eyes and said, "Thank you." He got up and danced away. I will never forget that interaction as it was a moment of joy for the both of us. This is what Heartfelt Community does. We bring moments of joy to people whether they think they need it or not."
Heartfelt Community Volunteer
"We volunteered in the memory care today, and while I massaged his hands he said, "This feels like home." He smiled and then started to my massage my hands in return."
Heartfelt Community Volunteer
"Going through the dementia live experience truly showed me the power of compassionate touch when a body is completely over stimulated. I was fortunate enough to be able to remove the stimuli, but I cannot imagine the daily life of those that must live with that constantly. The compassionate touch I received during the experience made all the difference in the world. I'm so grateful for Heartfelt Community and what they're bringing."
Heartfelt Community Volunteer
"A time we were at Heron Cove, there was a woman passing us as we were leaving that I had met a few weeks before at our first visit. As I went to greet her and say hello, she looked up and asked, "Are you the person that gave me that hand massage a few weeks ago?" She looked a little down, and when I said yes, she lit up and asked if I could do it again. Of course I said yes and went back inside with her. As we talked, she indicated that she was having a bad day and feeling down and anxious. She had enjoyed the hand massage so much the first time and said she just knew it would make her feel better. By the time we were done, she was laughing and smiling! I asked her if she felt better and she said, "Oh yes. You have no idea how much of a difference this made in my day." During my volunteer time, I have had so many of the elderly residents tell me how much they appreciate us coming and doing what we are doing and what it means to them. The visits, along with the compassionate touch of the hand massages, elevate their spirits so much and I am so happy and blessed to be a part of this!"
Heartfelt Community Volunteer
"Recently I attended a compassionate touch volunteer class. We need Heartfelt Touch Community to be known all across our community, and surrounding areas. The amount of knowledge that I could have utilized while my grandfather was going through dementia and late stages of life, would have been so useful for not only myself but our entire family . I cannot wait to start giving back to my community just with simple touch and compassion."
B.P.
"I met Ginger because of a group we are in together. She introduced us to her company, vision, and it immediately started tugging at my heart. Because I have heard and seen how our elderly, aging seniors can be forgotten etc. So the thought of volunteers going in and offering compassionate touch to people who may not have anyone visiting, touching and just talking with them. Ginger's heart to go out and teach the medical fields, caregiver how to give and explain and show how someone with dementia may feel and be experiencing can really make a difference. I took her class to become a volunteer and learn how to give a hand massage. I want my mom to come take the class too with her friends so she can also volunteer. If you don't have the time to volunteer please consider making a monetary donation to Heartfelt Community!"
B. Fisher
"Volunteering to provide compassionate touch hand massage with Heartfelt Community is the highlight of my week. Here's a story that will tell you why! During one of my weekly visits, I was sitting with one of the residents of Heron Cove doing a hand massage and chatting. This person is over 100 years old and such a delight to visit. She doesn't usually remember where we are from but she does remember what we do and how it makes her feel. She shared that, although they have a lot of activities and visitors at the facility, there is no one like us, who does what we do. She said she wanted me to know how special and very unique our visits are and how much they are appreciated, how much they look forward to them every week. She thanked me over and over again. I could hardly hold back the tears, it touched me so much! I told her thank you for sharing that with me and that she brings me so much more joy than she could possibly imagine. This is why we do what we do...."
K. Pope, Heartfelt Community Treasurer & Volunteer
"As I was telling Ms. L goodbye, she started to cry and repeated, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Investing time with her completely changes her day, her week, and maybe even her world view. Showing we care is so important!"
Heartfelt Community Volunteer
"Today, Ms. L told me, “I’ve never felt anybody touch me like this before. How did you learn this?” She was incredulous! At the end of our time together she said, “Thank you for doing this. It means so much to me.”"
Heartfelt Community Volunteer
"Kathy said she sometimes steps back and watches her teammates interacting with the residents. "It’s amazing to see," she says, "because each volunteer has a special way with those we serve.""
Heartfelt Community Volunteer
"Ms. E shared a story with me today about when she was in kindergarten 85 years ago. They didn’t have water bottles back then, she said. But they did give the students glass bottles of milk at recess. She also blew me kisses as I was leaving. What a sweet and tender moment!"
Heartfelt Community Volunteer
Have you been touched by Heartfelt Community as a volunteer, supporter, or family member? We’d love to hear your story. Your words inspire others to get involved and keep compassion moving forward.
Together, We Make Every Moment Heartfelt
When compassion meets action, lives change. Your time, your story, and your support help us create communities rooted in love and connection.
