Sheltering Arms Foundation

02/21/2026

The Sheltering Arms Foundation team recently joined our colleagues on the Sheltering Arms Club Rec team to learn more about an inspiring new program, Opening Minds through Art (OMA). 🎨🧠

OMA is an evidence-based program that promotes creativity, self-expression, and meaningful connection for people living with dementia and other neurological diagnoses. Through structured artistic practice, participants are empowered to create beautiful artwork that builds confidence, joy, and social engagement.

We're grateful to , a local nonprofit and certified OMA Master Trainer organization for helping to bring this program to our community. Last fall, and Lauren Glaser earned their OMA certification, and we had the chance to follow along as they demonstrated how art can be an important part of recovery and well-being.

Programs like OMA are possible thanks to generous community support of Club Rec. If you'd like to make a gift to help sustain and expand programming like this, please visit: 👉 www.shelteringarmsfoundation.org/donate

We left inspired by the power of creativity - and excited to see the impact this program will have on the people we serve. 💙🎨

Let us know in the comments how art has inspired your journey!

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02/13/2026

Today we celebrate Founder’s Day — 137 years since Sheltering Arms opened its doors on February 13, 1889. What began with a mission of compassion and healing continues because of you: our donors, community partners, team members, and volunteers.

Thanks to your generosity, we served more than 15,000 people last year and continue offering life‑changing programs, including peer mentors, caregiver support, and advanced rehabilitation technology found nowhere else in our region.

You help us carry forward a mission that will impact generations to come.
Thank you for being an essential part of this work. Happy Founder’s Day!

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01/16/2026

Join us for Sheltering Arms Club Rec’s annual “Afternoon at the Casino”—a unique, family-friendly event where everyone is invited to enjoy classic games and laughter in a fun, relaxed atmosphere!

This isn’t a fundraiser—it’s simply a chance to bring joy, excitement, and connection to our community. “Afternoon at the Casino” offers an opportunity to play games of chance - Bingo, Black Jack, 21, and others in a safe, welcoming space—something participants might not otherwise enjoy.

Everyone is invited! Bring your friends, meet new people, and enjoy a day filled with laughter and fun. It’s also a wonderful family-friendly event—one past participant shared, “Club Rec’s Casino Day is a time for us to enjoy family time together.” So come join us, make new friends, and create lasting memories!

Tag your friends and let us know your favorite game in the comments!

Register at https://lght.ly/7l34ddk

01/01/2026

🎉 Happy New Year from Sheltering Arms Foundation! 🎉

As we welcome 2026, we celebrate YOU—our incredible donors, patients, families, and community. Your generosity gives the Power to Overcome and makes life-changing care possible every day.

Thank you for helping us make so many special moments possible in 2025. Here’s to another year of hope, healing, and progress—together! 💙

12/31/2025

Last Chance to Give, Make your gift before the clock strikes midnight !

Thanks to the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, your gift goes further! For every $2 gift made online Sheltering Arms Foundation receives an extra $1 in match funding.

Sheltering Arms Foundation President Mac McElroy has a heartfelt message to share with you:

"Every recovery story begins with exceptional care—and that care is possible because of generous supporters like you. Our Margin of Excellence programs go beyond standard treatment, caring for the whole person body, mind, and spirit."

Make your gift today and help provide life-changing care for patients and families in our community.

https://shelteringarmsfoundation.org/donate/

12/30/2025

Leon’s Story: The Power of Care Beyond Medicine

Your gift to Sheltering Arms Margin of Excellence programs means more people like Leon receive the specialized care that fuels their recovery—body, mind, and spirit. Donate today and be part of making more stories like Leon's possible in 2026. https://lght.ly/3dc3e2h

"I’m happy to be here to raise my nieces and nephews.”

When Leon suffered a stroke while driving, it changed everything. Discover how his spirit and your support through Sheltering Arms helped him reclaim his life. After emergency brain surgery, his recovery was shaped not only by expert medical care but by the strength of his spirit.

Thanks to Sheltering Arms Margin of Excellence programs, patients like Leon receive care for body, mind, and spirit—because true healing goes beyond treatment.

Your generosity makes stories like Leon's possible - thank you!

12/23/2025

🌟 Suellen’s Story of Strength 🌟
In January 2021, Suellen’s life changed forever. After battling COVID and pneumonia, she continued to experience numerous health challenges—leading to the amputation of her leg.

Her journey since then has been nothing short of inspiring. This year, Suellen pushed herself to new heights by completing a triathlon!

She gives back every day as a volunteer at Sheltering Arms—sharing hope through the Limb Loss Support Group, comforting patients with her therapy dog Miller, and serving as a Peer Mentor. She’s also a proud donor who challenged her friends to give on her “amp-a-versary.”

Suellen says:
“If I can overcome and keep giving back, it makes me stronger.”

Now, she invites YOU to join her in making a difference. Thanks to the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, your gift goes further! For every $2 donated online, Sheltering Arms Foundation receives an extra $1 in match funding.

👉 Give today and help us continue to transform lives, https://lght.ly/kmngdc

11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving, we want to recognize people like you—whose strength and compassion build our community every day. 💙 Every act of generosity helps someone on their Road to Recovery—and that’s the true Power to Overcome. Thank you for being part of this journey!

Wishing you a joyful Thanksgiving filled with hope and gratitude. 🦃

✨ We’d love to hear from you: How has generosity shaped your journey this year? Share your story with us below—your experiences inspire others!

11/25/2025

NOTE: THE HOLIDAY MARKET HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2025, from 10 AM - 7 PM

You are invited to our first Sheltering Arms Holiday Market on Friday, December 5th, 2025, from 10 AM – 7 PM.

The holiday season can be especially challenging for those in the hospital—patients, families, and the dedicated staff working tirelessly around the clock. To bring ease and joy to this time, Sheltering Arms will host a special holiday event featuring creative and thoughtful gifts. This one-stop shopping experience offers festive convenience and cheer for everyone in our care community.

Shopping will be open from 10 AM to 7 PM!
From 3–6 PM, stop by the café to visit with Mr. Claus, enjoy cookies and cocoa, and let the kids have fun with a holiday craft!

Sheltering Arms Institute and Sheltering Arms Community Programs will also feature tables showcasing items for sale—crafted by our patients and participants as part of our recreation therapy programs. We even had team members join in by contributing items! Each piece reflects creativity, resilience, and the Power to Overcome

We will also be offering a complimentary gift-wrapping station. Drop your gifts to be wrapped and pick them up on the way out!
Gifts that are purchased by patients can be wrapped and delivered to their rooms.

Admission is free.

This event will benefit Sheltering Arms’ Margin of Excellence programs—special initiatives that go above and beyond standard care to enhance recovery and quality of life. Recreation Therapy, one of these programs, helps patients regain independence, build confidence, and find joy through meaningful activities. Your support makes these life-changing experiences possible!

Hope to see you there!

Not able to join in person but would still like to join in the fun? Make a gift supporting our Margin of Excellence at https://lght.ly/lab320h.

11/21/2025

11/04/2025

Nutrition Tips Shared by an Expert

Registered Dietician, Dana Lucy Egan will be at Sheltering Arms Club Rec to share actionable, simple, and attainable goals for healthier holiday celebrations! You can join either in person or virtually.

Space is limited, so register today! Register now: https://lght.ly/1he55j8

Earlier this year, Sheltering Arms Club Rec hosted a fantastic nutritional series focused on nutrition and aging. Many attendees shared how Dana's practical advice is helping them manage chronic conditions and eat healthy on a budget. Now, as we head into the season of sweets, feasts, and festive gatherings, we’re bringing her back to help us stay on track!

📅 Join us on Friday, November 7th from 10–11 AM at our Sheltering Arms Midtown location for a special session with Dana Lucy Egan, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with over 30 years of experience. Dana runs a private practice in Richmond and works with clients of all ages and nutritional needs.

🍽️ Dana will focus on navigating nutrition during the holiday season by providing practical tips for mindful eating, preparing healthier meals and snacks, and making smart choices at all those upcoming parties and gatherings.

Let’s head into the holidays feeling empowered and informed! 💪🍎

10/29/2025

🤔Get ready for a spook-tacular Friday 🎃

Join us at the Monster Mash Dance Social hosted by Sheltering Arms Community Programs—where costumes, music, and Halloween treats meet for a memorable afternoon!

🗓 Friday, Oct 31 | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
📍 Midtown Location, 2805 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
🎧 DJPotluck from RVAEats will be dropping festive beats to keep the dance floor alive.

🌭 Halloween-inspired bites like mummy dogs & more are included in your ticket price!

👗 Dress in your BEST costume or cozy fall couture—prizes for the most festive looks!

✨ Make new friends, enjoy lunch, and dance the afternoon away!

👉 Register now: https://lght.ly/oo0j4lf

Tell us about your favorite spooktacular Halloween costume in the comments below.