We truly love where we live. And loving our home means caring for the people who share it with us: our neighbors, families, and friends. They are the heartbeat of the Valley, the reason this place feels like home.
“Homes are built with walls and beams; communities are built with love and giving”
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
As winter approaches, many in our community will face real challenges. This season calls us to show up with kindness, generosity, and presence. Below are meaningful ways to support our neighbors and care for one another throughout the colder months.
1. Support Families Facing Housing Insecurity
Mercy House – Harrisonburg
Mercy House provides essential support for families experiencing homelessness, offering shelter, rapid rehousing, and prevention services. Donating gently used clothing, furniture, or household items to their thrift stores directly supports these families. Participating in or hosting a winter gear drive—collecting coats, gloves, blankets, and boots—can also help keep someone warm this season. And if you’re able, financial contributions sustain this vital work year-round.
“Even small acts of kindness can make a cold night feel a little warmer”
2. Bless Local Children and Foster Families
HRHA Giving Tree Program
The HRHA Giving Tree Program connects donors with local children in housing assistance programs. By choosing an ornament and purchasing the items listed, you help ensure a child feels seen and cared for during the holidays. Winter essentials such as coats, boots, or pajamas are especially meaningful. You can also support foster families by preparing holiday care packages or offering gift cards to help meet everyday needs.
3. Care for Pets Without Homes
Rockingham–Harrisonburg SPCA
Thousands of animals rely on the RHSPCA each year for shelter, food, and care. Donating pet food, blankets, or cleaning supplies helps keep them safe and healthy. If you’re open to it, fostering or adopting a pet provides comfort and companionship during the cold season. Even organizing a small collection at work, school, or your gym can make a difference.
“Love where you live — right down to the paws and whiskers.”
4. Support Seniors and Nursing Home Residents
Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS)
Many seniors in our community experience loneliness during the winter. VPAS runs seasonal donation programs like “Soup, Socks & Sunshine,” which deliver simple comforts such as warm socks, tea, blankets, and handwritten notes. Coordinating holiday cards or delivering small care packages reminds seniors they are seen, valued, and part of this community.
5. Serve Hot Meals and Winter Essentials
Our Community Place (OCP)
OCP provides daily meals, emergency resources, and safe space for individuals in need. You can support their mission by donating winter essentials such as thermal socks, gloves, sleeping bags, or hygiene items. Volunteering to prepare or serve meals also helps deliver warmth—not only through food, but through presence and connection.
“Helping one person might not change the world — but it could change their world.”
More Ways to Help
You might volunteer at local libraries or cultural centers, like the Massanutten Regional Library, which welcomes volunteers for shelving, events, and everyday support.
You can also help immigrant and refugee families by getting involved with organizations like New Bridges, offering language and community assistance to those building a new life here.
Caring for the place we call home is also an act of love—programs like “Adopt a Street” and local clean-up days help keep our shared spaces beautiful and welcoming.
Thrift and resale stores, like Gift & Thrift, rely on volunteers to organize donations and support local causes through sustainable community giving.
And don’t forget community events. Festivals and downtown celebrations often need volunteers for hosting, coordination, and welcoming visitors—simple moments that bring neighbors together.
Let’s Bring Service Home
Loving our Valley isn’t just about loving the landscape. It’s about loving the people who live here. It’s about neighbors showing up for neighbors — especially when the days get colder and nights get longer.
Choose just one way to give this season:
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- Invite someone to join you, set a date and make it happen
- Invite someone to join you, set a date and make it happen
