2019 South East Regional Emmy Award: Outstanding Human Interest Feature: Mr. Tom's Heart
Click here to watch GHA’s Hospital Hero video about Mr. Tom!
Click here to watch Neighborhood TV’s interview with Mr. Tom!
How do we do it? Mr. Tom’s Heart screens and matches generous donors of food and sundries with deserving charities in need, then we arrange and manage pickups and deliveries. Some recent activities include:
Many Publix stores are now directly donating excess food items to 501(c)3’s for families in need. MTH gave input to design a system so that each new store manager learns how to direct Publix resources into charitable giving.
Costco stores have committed to giving diapers, shampoo, soap and other life necessities to those who do not take for granted having these items. The local Ronald McDonald Houses are participants who anticipate this will save them thousands of dollars.
The young girls experiencing chemo at Scottish Rite rarely experience a prom. MTH helped give a prom that included beauty and image services to help prepare the girls for this fun encouraging event. These donations included lovely dresses, food, flowers and a fun evening.
Trader Joes and Kroger are just two of the generous donors providing free food to less fortunate families; flowers to patients in hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses and much more.
Mr. Tom’s Heart brings joy and encouragement through food and donations. The greatest secret is the joy brought to the donors and volunteers.
Mr. Tom’s Heart has been busy in 2023 and we have not let Covid slow us down — people more than ever have needed extra support and we have been there to lend a helping hand. Mr. Tom is still volunteering 7 days a week with the help of his fabulous volunteers. Some ways we are helping:
Giving out about 100 bouquets of donated flowers every week, thanks to Trader Joe’s.
Delivering boxes of chips, crackers and fruit bars to every floor at Scottish Rite Hospital every week for the heroes.
Purchasing and delivering Papa John’s pizzas each Saturday to the Aflac Cancer center at Scottish Rite. We also take pizzas to the ER and hospital security.
We take weekly donations from Costco to the Ronald McDonald Houses and give gift cards for any purchases that RMH needs to purchase for the families.
Donated various sundries and food from Costco are given to RMH and Calvary Children’s Home.
Solidary Sandy Springs is given breads, cakes, donuts, etc from Publix every week as well as flowers from Trader Joe’s.
Plaid Enterprises donates arts & crafts to The Zone at Scottish Rite, as well as the art department.
As you can see, we are staying busy and taking care of people and families who really need us. We still have no employees and have kept a very low overhead. This is where we need your help. Anything you can give will go a long way to help more people in need in our community and the surrounding area. Thank you in advance for any help you can give us!
Mr. Tom won an Emmy award!! Watch his recent appearances on 11Alive, Steve, and NBC’s Sunday Today Show!
Tom has volunteered for many years and was the first to be placed on our Volunteer Hall of Fame. Working with our "Bread Gang" delivering products from our community vendors to the center, the next thing we all noted was the increase and variety of the donations coming into the center due to his due diligence. Tom gives new meaning to the term "multi-tasking." He can follow up on several issues, all the while displaying admirable patience, care, and concern.
Martha R. FortsonDorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex
Tom Umstead, who does more volunteer work each week than most people work in a week, is always giving to and helping others, and he does this with a grateful heart. Over $10,000 worth of arts and crafts materials have been brought to us by Mr. Tom along with him finding instructions for these classes.
Lee Smith, Executive DirectorPALS, Perimeter Adult Learning & Services Inc.
Volunteers like Mr. Tom Umstead, founder of Mr. Tom's Heart, help make our houses a "home away from home." Thanks to the generous donations he helps us receive from Costco, Trader Joe's, and Publix, our families are provided with much needed household items, snacks, pastries, and toiletry items.
Caroline Mealor, Volunteer Services ManagerAtlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc.
He works harder than anyone out there, and I trust him with my own childrens' lives. All my children light up when he comes near to say hello. He has the warmest, most unselfish and most gentle personality of anyone I have ever met. He seems to know almost everyone by first name, and everyone, both young and old, call him Mr. Tom and respect him immensely. I have never met a man or a woman with a joyful heart as big as that of Mr. Tom who seems to volunteer more hours every month than I spend at my full time law job.
Samuel M. Chambliss IIIManer, Crumly, Chambliss, LLC
Tom has served in many volunteer roles at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. While in The Zone, he plays games with our patients and helps with special events. He is also part of our "Reader To Patient" program. Tom has given over 3,500 hours of service in his eight years of volunteering at Children's.
Melanie Turner, Volunteer & Special Events CoordinatorChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
For 10 years he has volunteered his time to read and play with the hospital patients. In addition, he brightens our center with flowers and snacks every week! His kindness makes a huge difference in our lives.
Tanisha Grimes, Phd, MPH, Practice ManagerStephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children
For more than 10 years, Mr. and Mrs. Umstead have dedicated so much to children and families at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Ronald McDonald House. Their dedication to volunteer serves as a vital link in the chain which drives our operations here at the Day Rehabilitation Program and the Ronald McDonald house.
Kim Amos, Front Office ManagerChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta, Day Rehabilitation
He is well known for his positive attitude and diligence. He is well respected throughout Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for his persistent efforts to support and uplift the patients and staff. It takes great vision and character to do what Tom does on a consistent basis.
Nichole Neilly, Business Operations SupervisorJudson Hawk Clinic, Center for Craniofacial Disorders
Tom cheerfully delivers fresh flowers and a variety of baked goods to our clinic each week. His generosity in donating these items to our Clinic is always met with a thankful and warm response from our employees. You have no idea how such a thoughtful gesture is so greatly appreciated by everyone.
Sharon Whitehead, Business Operations CoordinatorAflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic
Over the past 8 years, Tom has continually blessed me with a hug and quick check-in every time I see him in the halls of at Children's, often before 7 a.m. when others of his maturity are enjoying a quiet morning at home.
Holly WatsonChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
I didn't know Tom long before he "retired." It was then that I believe he really got to work. Thousands of children have gone home from VBS with a hug from Tom around their neck in the form of a sweet handmade necklace. Tom was the first to meet each of my children when they were born at the Northside Hospital. How he even knew we were there, I do not know.
Sue Kraus
Tom personally made sure that at-risk children from local outreach ministries, Atlanta Youth Academy, and the S.A.Y. Yes! Center, were able to attend VBS for many years. His energy and big heart of love is truly amazing.
Margaret Ann Briggs
Mr. Tom only involves himself in charities that he himself is truly passionate about. He thoroughly educates himself on the mission and objectives of whatever service project he is involved in. And, his genuine compassion and contagious enthusiasm naturally draws people to him.
Karen B. Holsten
The children of this church have literally grown up with "Mr. Tom" (who never ages) as he has gone the second mile, the third, and beyond that. He is the essence of the word "giver," and not only because he gives of things, but he gives of himself.
Connie Musselman, Director of Children's MinistryThe Church of the Apostles, Atlanta Georgia
Tom is the volunteer chief that gets the job done. Tom has contributed over 15,000 volunteer hours to the Benson Senior Center providing procurement of various materials for the programs so enjoyed by our seniors. Aside from the community activities, Tom is the original "Energizer Bunny" at our church. The Church of the Apostles. In reality if you need something at Apostles, the comment is usually, "ask Mr. Tom."
Don and Bev Chapman
Some of our Generous Donors
Some of the Deserving Charities We Serve
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