About Us
Grateful Hearts Givings, NJ is a Nonprofit Organization a.k.a. GHGNP was founded by Joann and Michael Conwell in November of 2008.
While attending New Jerusalem House of God Church in Mount Holly, New Jersey in November of 2008, they were led by the Holy Spirit to feed the under-served individuals in the Community on Thanksgiving morning. When called by the Holy Spirit to undertake this task, they rose to the occasion and personally financed the event.
By 2010 they had expanded to add Christmas as well. They asked friends and family members to lend a hand, with the events occurring during the holiday season, it was difficult for them to obtain the finances needed. However, the kind hearts of Church members helped them to supplement their own financial donation.
By the time 2013 came around Joann & Michael concluded that it would be more economical to produce fruits, and vegetables their selves. This enabled them to help provide food for the senior citizens and under-served in the community on an ongoing basis. Even though they live in a small Townhouse, they started a garden that produced organic non-GMO fresh fruits and vegetables in their own backyard. In addition to the back yard, they expanded the garden to the side of their home, being they lived on a corner property.
By 2017 they determined there were more Senior citizens and under-served individuals living in the community then first estimated. The Senior citizens that reside in the Burlington County Community Action Program (BCCAP) Apartment Complex would come to their property and ask for fresh vegetables. It was then they decided they needed to expand their little garden to a bigger garden.
They went to the Director of BCCAP and requested space to expand and grow more fruits and vegetables and to provide outside gardening classes and therapeutic gardening for their residents. The Director of the Program did not hesitate to offer space.
Although the space is free, the materials for building an enclosed garden to protect the fruits and vegetables from the local wild animals like deer, rabbits, and possums was not free, they received donations of some materials and volunteers from the kindness of Church members of Kingsway Church, Burlington/Cherry Hill, NJ. They also had a volunteer or two from the residents and local community. In addition, they had a friend or two pitching in now and then.
GHGNP Donation Garden behind BCCAP Senior Housing Building was established August 2017.The number of families served per year is 87+/- at the BCCAP building. The number of families served per year is 190+/- in the local community.
Ninety -Seven percent of the funds used to build the garden came from their own personal income. The other 3% came from donations from friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, and money from yard sales or selling their own personal belongings.
In November 2019 things were different due to the Pandemic. Thankfully in 2020, due to a donation from Michael’s job, Ryder Logistics, they were still able to feed 197 families. Now they provide meats, canned goods, and non-perishables during the non-growing season. When spring and summer comes, not only do they grow the food their selves they teach how to preserve the fresh harvest, to be utilized during the leaner times.
The Conwell’s have been providing food, clothing, prayer, spiritual uplifting, and recreational events, etc… to the senior citizens and the under-served folks in the community free of charge since 2008.
Mr. & Mrs. Conwell are devoted to fulfilling their God appointed calling. Their joy is in the giving. Won’t you help them by donating what you can?
Making a difference in someone’s life can also make a difference in your life.