The Big Give:
A community's progressive volunteering adventure!
Have you heard about our neighborhood fundraising and volunteering extravaganza called The Big Give? If not, let me tell you all about it! The Big Give was created by Willowsford Cares to help support our community and help Loudoun County thrive and grow. This year, Willowsford Cares was thrilled to bring back the event for the first time since 2019! Part scavenger hunt, part volunteering in the style of a progressive dinner where everyone travels from place to place, this family-friendly fundraiser makes a huge impact! This year, more than 160 people in 40 Willowsford families gathered to make a difference for 8 charities!
During the event, each family is assigned to one of three groups based on the ages of the family members. Prep work ahead of time was required which included bringing some supplies to help and buying some supplies to donate. We began the day at the Hal and Berni Hanson Park. As everyone gathered and dropped off their donations, the first opportunity to help a nonprofit was through the Play4All fundraiser. Play4All is an organization run by middle schoolers at Willard whose mission is to make public playgrounds more accessible for disabled children. Families were able to donate money and buy cupcakes and treats to support the program. As a middle schooler, I felt drawn to the cause and made a donation myself! If you would like to support them, you can find more information at [Play4All](https://play4all.org).
Next, we had the Hal & Berni Hanson Park Clean Up. We all love this park, especially after the beautiful fireworks show, but it did get a little messy. Each team was assigned a different area of the park, and we set out to collect as much trash as we could, leaving the park cleaner than ever.
The third event was shopping for Better-A-Life “weekend bags” for children with food insecurities. This nonprofit organization provides children and families with food, education, assistance, and other necessities. Each team was assigned a grocery store where we bought non-perishable food items for families in need. Additionally, we gave a $10 gift card as a random act of kindness to a customer in the store. These bags were handed off after the sixth event!
Next up was helping with Sprout Therapeutic Riding Center maintenance. Sprout is a horse riding center that provides therapy to children in need. We each made a donation that went towards buying supplies for the horses. During the event, each team helped with different parts of the farm. For example, my team spread wood chips on the horse trail, making it easier for them to walk. It was exhausting but rewarding.
After lunch, we stuffed welcome bags for children at INOVA, Northern Virginia’s only dedicated pediatric hospital. Each team was assigned to a certain age group; my team made welcome bags for children aged 3-5.
In our sixth event, we made dog treats for FOHA (Friends of Homeless Animals). This no-kill shelter is committed to our animals and community. We used peanut butter, kibble, pumpkin, and other fun ingredients to make tasty treats!
Our final event involved assembling bikes and care packages for an organization called Foster Love. This non-profit organization makes foster care easier and better. We split into groups and got to work! My group made hero and birthday boxes filled with supplies and action figures. We decorated boxes and cards, writing kind notes to the children. The older group assembled bikes while the younger group made sweet cases filled with treats and candy.
Overall, the Big Give was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to connect with the community. If you are interested in a fun way to give back, look no further—our community’s charity is phenomenal, and I highly recommend participating in 2025!
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The third event was shopping for Better-A-Life “weekend bags” for children with food insecurities. This nonprofit organization provides children and families with food, education, assistance, and other necessities. Each team was assigned a grocery store where we bought non-perishable food items for families in need. Additionally, we gave a $10 gift card as a random act of kindness to a customer in the store. These bags were handed off after the sixth event!
Next up was helping with Sprout Therapeutic Riding Center maintenance. Sprout is a horse riding center that provides therapy to children in need. We each made a donation that went towards buying supplies for the horses. During the event, each team helped with different parts of the farm. For example, my team spread wood chips on the horse trail, making it easier for them to walk. It was exhausting but rewarding.
After lunch, we stuffed welcome bags for children at INOVA, Northern Virginia’s only dedicated pediatric hospital. Each team was assigned to a certain age group; my team made welcome bags for children aged 3-5.
In our sixth event, we made dog treats for FOHA (Friends of Homeless Animals). This no-kill shelter is committed to our animals and community. We used peanut butter, kibble, pumpkin, and other fun ingredients to make tasty treats!
Our final event involved assembling bikes and care packages for an organization called Foster Love. This non-profit organization makes foster care easier and better. We split into groups and got to work! My group made hero and birthday boxes filled with supplies and action figures. We decorated boxes and cards, writing kind notes to the children. The older group assembled bikes while the younger group made sweet cases filled with treats and candy.
Overall, the Big Give was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to connect with the community. If you are interested in a fun way to give back, look no further—our community’s charity is phenomenal, and I highly recommend participating in 2025!
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See page xx for this month's Celebrations feature to read all about Stroll's Happy Hour that raised more than $1,000 for Play4All for The Big Give!