• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

RVA Mag

Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005

Menu RVA Mag Logo
  • community
  • MUSIC
  • ART
  • EAT DRINK
  • GAYRVA
  • POLITICS
  • PHOTO
  • EVENTS
  • MAGAZINE
RVA Mag Logo
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contributors
  • Sponsors

Goat’s Milk Soap Is The GOAT

David Tran | August 28, 2020

Topics: art, community, freckled farm soap company, goat soap roanoke va, local business, naked goat soap, richmond va farmers market, richmond va goat soap, roanoke, roanoke va farmers market, South of the James Farmers Market, virginia goat soap, wandering cow farm

Whether you want to incorporate more clean skin products into your life or just to live out your cottagecore fantasy, these homemade soap businesses from all around Virginia are here to add to your collection. And the best part: the soap comes from goats. 

While you’re deep asleep in your bed at five in the morning, Crystal Neilson-Hall of Freckled Farm Soap Company is out feeding her herds of goats. 

This is just the start of a long day for many goat farmers in Virginia. From tending their farms to formulating recipes, local goat farmers spend much of their time surrounded by the redolence of livestock, lavender, and cedarwood. 

PHOTO: Freckled Farm Soap Company

At Freckled Farm Soap Company in Goochland, Neilson-Hall and her husband may work until 10 or 11 at night. While her life constantly revolves around tending to her goats and other farm animals, Neilson-Hall says it doesn’t feel like work. 

“I feel like I’m living my vacation, because I love what I do,” she said. The company is named after her two children, Breckin and Bryce; both names are Celtic words for “freckled.” She had always wanted goats, and the soap business grew out of her desire to raise them. 

As environmentalists, Neilson-Hall and her husband stand behind the nutrition and environmental benefits of using goat’s milk. After doing their research, they decided to start creating products. 

“So often, people are using products that put horrible chemicals into our water system,” Neilson-Hall said. “That messes up our reservoirs, creating algae, and killing and suffocating wildlife. So we’re very careful to pay attention to what we are creating.” 

Their bar soaps consist of goat’s milk and essential oils, which they source from suppliers with Certified Sustainable Certificates, indicating that they utilize sustainable practices. 

PHOTO: Freckled Farm Soap Company

In addition to their goats and typical farm animals, Freckled Farm is bestowed with a guard llama, Afton, who is famous among many customers. Afton is reaching old age, but with the help of a guard dog, he is still committed to protecting the farm and animals. 

“His job has always been to protect the herd,” Neilson-Hall said, “and he takes it pretty seriously.” 

Naked Goat Soap, located right outside of Richmond in Hanover, was founded by Heather Long in 2014. The “Naked” in Naked Goat Soap refers to the lack of dyes and chemicals in her products, Long said. 

Burnt out by her real estate career, Long decided to venture into the soap-making business after moving to her husband’s family farm and acquiring goats. From there, she delved into research on goat’s milk benefits and soap-making, and started experimenting with batches. She began selling to friends and family, and the business grew organically. 

“It was just a flow, a natural process as this came together,” Long said. “It afforded me the opportunity to focus on my business and leave my previous career.” 

PHOTO: Naked Goat Soap

GOAT Soap, based in Roanoke, was created by Bryce and Emily Gannon after a trip to their local farmer’s market nearly a decade ago. They purchased goat’s milk soaps from a vendor, and after one use, they never went back to any other soaps. 

The two were so in love with the soaps that they soon talked with the vendor about expanding his brand nationwide. After learning the soap-making process directly from him — and with many trials and errors — GOAT Soap was born. 

“It all started from a desire,” Emily said, “to take such a good product with goat’s milk in it to more than just the downtown Roanoke farmer’s market.” 

The brand’s name is a pun, as GOAT is an acronym for The Greatest of All Time. The Gannons are confident about goat’s milk products when they say “it’s the greatest soap of all time.” 

Homemade goat’s milk soap lacks artificial ingredients and chemicals that commercial mass-produced soaps often contain. The rich nutrients in goat’s milk, such as alpha hydroxy acid, combined with essential oils’ soothing properties, make the product a non-toxic and natural alternative that many consumers seek. 

Both Neilson-Hall and Emily Gannon pointed out that mass-produced commercial soaps are not legally allowed to call their products “soaps,” but rather use terms like “beauty bars” or “moisturizing bars.” 

PHOTO: Freckled Farm Soap Company

“Many of them are qualified as detergents, not actually soaps,” Emily said. “In order to be a soap, you have to move through the saponification process.” 

Saponification, in simpler terms, is a process in which triglycerides such as oils react with lye to produce soap. 

“Once you go handmade, you can’t go back,” Neilson-Hall said. “They’re using high-quality ingredients, high-quality oils that are really nourishing.” 

Owning a small goat’s milk soap business comes with multiple perks. Besides being surrounded by goats all day long, there is full creativity and control in designing and naming the products.

Many of Naked Goat Soap’s product names are influenced by their scent profiles and color. Take “Calm” as an example: a cool, gray bar soap. It’s named after the lavender essential oil’s ability to calm, and for Long, gray is a calming color. 

“I think people are connected to a scent,” Long said. “Maybe it reminds them of their childhood or it reminds them of a certain place.” 

Neilson-Hall and her husband have a similar approach to naming their soaps. While they do take into consideration the ingredients and scent profile, extensive research goes into the naming process as well. 

PHOTO: Naked Goat Soap

They were conflicted on what to name a bar soap containing frankincense and myrrh. Neilson-Hall said she wanted to avoid simply naming it “Frankincense and Myrrh,” because it can have religious connotations. After learning these essential oils originated in the Northeast region of Africa, and that Cleopatra used them in her makeup to prevent conjunctivitis, she decided on the name “Cleopatra.” 

“We felt it would be a good homage,” Neilson-Hall said. “This woman, who is known for her beauty and her skincare; to honor her [because] these essential oils hail from her part of the world.” 

Wandering Cow Farm in Charles City, named for owner Mary Murphy’s infamous cow that frequently escaped the farm, started out as a forage project for her kids. She soon turned to soap-making as a way to help treat her daughter’s psoriasis and acne. 

Like many local businesses, Murphy’s business took a hit amid the coronavirus outbreak. As a response to the pandemic, she began making face masks and hand sanitizers. Murphy went through all the steps to get federal and ABC permits, so she’s able to buy alcohol from manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and distilleries. For Murphy, helping people find these essential products during coronavirus was an important contribution to the local community. 

PHOTO: Wandering Cow Farm

GOAT Soap also felt the effects of coronavirus this year. Launched in March, right as the pandemic started creeping into the United States, Emily Gannon said the extra time at home was helpful. It ensured that their products and website were ready before launching, and it was also beneficial to customers. 

“It has helped that people have had a chance to slow down,” she said, “and evaluate the products they use in their life.” 

For Neilson-Hall and Long, there were some challenges in operating during the pandemic. A majority of their income came from farmer’s markets and exhibitions. With cases spiking in Virginia in past weeks, these events were cancelled. 

The reopening of the South of the James Farmers Market allowed Neilson-Hall and her husband to experiment with selling their product under social distancing guidelines, but they barely made a profit. 

“The little bit that we were bringing in was not worth the risk it was bringing into our family, with my high-risk husband,” she said. 

In an average year, Long would attend 20 to 24 shows, one as far as Nashville, she said. This year, while some shows transitioned online, Long said the virtual markets do not offer the same intimate experiences and interactions as in-person markets. 

PHOTO: Freckled Farm Soap Company

Despite the obstacles that the coronavirus has created for these local businesses, website traffic has surged during the past couple months. 

Long is thankful for her customers’ loyalty and the brand’s stockists — like Ashby, Whole Foods, Mamie’s Apothecary, and more — for their continuous support for her business. She also acknowledged the amount of free time she now has to develop her brand further. 

“It allowed me to step back for a second,” Long said, “and to take time to start working on new products, like our liquid soaps. [It also helps] to hone in on the things that maybe you’d miss on a day-to-day normal year.” 

The pandemic has forced many local vendors to restructure their business models, and these goat’s milk soap companies are no exceptions. 

“Luckily, we have amazing, supportive customers who have followed us to this new platform and continued to support us,” Neilson-Hall said. 

Soaps from Freckled Farm Soap Company, Naked Goat Soap, GOAT Soap, and Wandering Cow Farm are available on their websites, along with other products. 

RVA Merch!

RVA Staff | May 18, 2020

Topics: coronavirus, covid 19, covid19, donate, local business, local media, magazine, merch, rva mag merch, rva mag shirts, RVA Magazine, rva magazine shirt, RVAmag, shirt, staff donation, staff help, support rva magazine, support rvamag

Check out our limited-edition merch with 100% of sales going directly to support our staff. As our partners in small business are hurt by Covid-19, RVA Magazine hurts as well — and we look to our community for help. 

Welcome, friends: artists, musicians, writers, and local businesses that we have worked alongside for so many years now. Under these hard circumstances and uncertain times for our community, your RVA Magazine team is here. We will continue to uplift local businesses, provide resources for Virginians to survive, and stay on the beat for the good of our neighbors as we always have. And as we’ve said in conversations with many of you these past few weeks, it is our highest priority to help the folks in our community come out on top. It’s our job, and we’re proud to do it. 

But we need to ask for your help. RVA Magazine survives through partnerships with the small businesses we all know and love, and as the future is uncertain for so many of our local friends, it becomes so for us as well. We pride ourselves on working with restaurants, nonprofits, and small business across the River City — but as so many of our partners have been forced to shut their doors during this crisis, RVA Magazine looks to our readers to prevent us from doing the same. 

DONATE TO OUR PAYPAL & PURCHASE SHIRTS WITH THE DONATE BUTTON
Also, donations can also be sent directly to Inkwell Ventures at [email protected]





That’s why we’re introducing RVA Mag merch to support our staff. Through our PayPal, we’ve got two limited-edition RVA Mag shirts for sale. 100% of proceeds go directly to supporting our staff, as they stay on the beat despite cutbacks to help our local businesses, artists, musicians, and more find resources to get through this. 

Merch is listed below with titles for each option. 

To purchase:

  • Send a $20 donation to our Paypal. 
  • Add a note including the design you’d like (“RVA Magazine Logo Shirt” or “Richard Perkins RVA Mag Shirt”). 
  • Include your t-shirt size in the note. 
Click here to send your PayPal donation for purchase.

Regular donations (without purchase of merch) are also welcomed in any amount, so feel free to donate directly if you prefer. We appreciate any and all support you are able to offer during this time. 

Thank you to our readers, our partners, and our friends for the love over all these years. We cannot thank you enough, and we are working as hard as we can to stay afloat during these times to keep bringing you the best of culture in Virginia… and to keep local media alive in the River City. 

Let’s get through this together!

New Designs! Local Artist Support Shirts with RVA Together

RVA Staff | May 1, 2020

Topics: Austin Miles, community, coronavirus, covid 19, covid_19, covid19, Feedmore, Hamilton Glass, local business, Matt Lively, Nico Cathcart, nils westergard, nonprofit, RVA Magazine, rva together, RVAmag, support

NEW DESIGNS OUT NOW! As loss of work affects Richmond’s local creative communities during coronavirus, artist Nico Cathcart and RVA Magazine come together to raise money for local artists and benefit Feed More. 

There are no words to adequately express the anxiety and uncertainty we are all feeling at the moment. Richmond is a city that thrives on its independence, creativity, and collective enterprise — and the local arts community, the creative heartbeat of our city, is taking a hard hit from this loss of work. Our artists are an essential part of what makes Richmond such a special place to live, and after years of them bringing life and culture into our home, it’s our turn to give back. 

That’s why RVA Magazine has joined hands with muralist Nico Cathcart and K2 Custom Tees to start RVA Together: a fundraising drive for local artists to sell their designs on t-shirts, benefiting each artist and donating to Feed More to help our city fight food insecurity in the wake of Covid-19.

SHOP NOW OPEN! Click here to buy merch to support our local artists. Supporters can choose their favorite print or artist to donate to, and every t-shirt sale benefits the artist, Feed More, and the staff of K2 Custom Tees, who have generously offered to host the initiative. 

As we move forward, RVA Together will feature 5 artists during every two-week period, sending out purchased shirts and introducing a new set of artists as each new time frame begins.

Every shirt will give $10 to the artist, $10 to K2 Custom Tees to supply the shirts and support their staff during printing, and a $5 donation to Feed More. 

Available at RVA Together’s Web Shop

With the spread of Covid-19, it feels like our community has been thrown into disarray, and with it, our sense of stability and purpose. This is uncharted territory for each of us, and it is only appropriate to wonder what our city, state, country, and even the world will look like at the end of this… because if one thing is certain, it’s that it will not look the same. Knowing this, it’s more important now than ever for us to come together as a city and support our artists, creative culture, and small businesses.

Let’s preserve everything that makes Richmond “Richmond.” 

Please check out the RVA Together Initiative, and do what you can to help. RVA Magazine will continue to operate during Covid-19, as a community sounding board, as a distraction, and as a way to communicate pertinent information as it becomes available. However, like most small businesses, we are also struggling to keep our doors open during these complex times — and any little bit helps. 

Available at RVA Together’s Web Shop

Along with all of our favorite local artists, an RVA Magazine shirt will remain available to support our staff during this time. RVA Magazine works through partnerships with the small businesses we all know and love, and as the future is uncertain for so many of our local friends, it becomes so for us as well. We will continue to uplift our local artists, musicians, and small businesses through initiatives like Eat Local! and RVA Together, and donations to us through RVA Together “RVA” shirt purchases, as well as our Patreon/PayPal, help keep us afloat. 

We are always available to speak with you, and we encourage you to reach out to us with any questions, concerns, or announcements you think are relevant. We wish all of you the very best during the upcoming weeks. 

And finally, practice social distancing! The sooner you do, the sooner we can all continue with our lives and re-join the culture of our beautiful River City.

Available at RVA Together’s Web Shop
Available at RVA Together’s Web Shop
Available at RVA Together’s Web Shop

Richmond Restaurants United Release Powerful Video Pleading For Support

Marilyn Drew Necci | March 23, 2020

Topics: coronavirus, covid 19, local business, Overcoast Music, richmond restaurants, Richmond Restaurants United, social distancing wage, Spang TV

A group formed by the owners and operators of a variety of Richmond’s leading restaurants is asking our government to step in during this time of social distancing and help preserve the local restaurant community that helps define Richmond culture.

Supporting local businesses has become more important than ever in a time when coronavirus is devastating the economy. If we want the local restaurants we love to still exist when the current quarantine is over, we’re going to have to support them now. And no one knows that better than the restaurant owners and workers themselves.

Last week, in the wake of Governor Northam’s order that public gatherings be severely curtailed, a group of Richmond restaurants came together to form Richmond Restaurants United, an advocacy and support group with the mission of urging immediate action from the government and the community in order to save our local restaurants.

Their website provides resources for the thousands of workers who were laid off after social distancing went into effect, as well as resources for restaurant owners and operators seeking relief in the wake of a massive drop in business and trying to determine their next step.

They also released a video message, put together by Spang TV and Overcoast Music, which features a variety of Richmond restaurant owners explaining the current situation they’ve found themselves in and advocating for immediate help from local, state, and national governments in order to ensure that the restaurants we know and love will still be there after the current COVID-19 lockdown is over. See it below:

Richmond Restaurants United is advocating for immediate financial assistance from all levels of government, through a stimulus package that provides assistance for the industry and a temporary wage for furloughed workers the group is calling a Social Distancing Wage.

“What I need is swift action from our government with assistance that’s meaningful for our restaurants and our restaurant employees,” Michelle Williams of Richmond Restaurant Group says in the video.

Richmond Restaurants United has laid out a four-step plan at their website for those who want to help, including ways to donate funds, time, and services to the cause. If you’re interested, visit their website at richmondrestaurantsunited.com.

The Dorm Room Hustle: Owning Fashion Companies in College

Kaitlin Edwardson | March 11, 2020

Topics: anthony moody, art, business, college, community, e.xclusively, erin watton, exclusively, fashion, fashion in richmond va, JMU, john mcgrinder, local business, redeemed generation, renegade sports, richmond va, richmond va clothing brands, richmond va local business, RVA, things to do richmond va, University of Richmond, vcu, virginia clothing brands, virginia fashion

Whether it starts as a side gig or a passionate new business, college students around the country are opening brands of their own before graduation. 

College students are not just students anymore. Many students around the country have jobs on top of their schoolwork to earn extra money. Some work as college tour guides, some work in school offices, and others have off-campus jobs. About 81 percent of undergraduate part-time students and 43 percent of undergraduate full-time students are employed, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

With tuition, books, meal plans, and additional costs, college is expensive. Luckily for Erin Watton, John McGrinder, and Anthony Moody, they work right out of their rooms — running fashion and apparel companies by themselves.

21-year-old Erin Watton, who hails from Milwaukee, WI, is currently a junior at the University of Richmond, and the sole talent behind e.xclusively: a hand-painted apparel company that sells custom painted designs on anything, including denim jackets and handbags for any occasion. 

Photo via e.xclusively on Instagram

Watton started e.xclusively after spilling ink on her favorite sweatshirt in printmaking class during her freshman year of college. “After covering up the ink with painted stars, I sent a photo to my friends,” Watton said. “They loved the sweatshirt, and begged me to paint theirs. Soon after, I realized I could create a small business out of this painting venture.”

e.xclusively officially started in the summer of 2018. Although Watton was working in retail at the time, she wanted more experience in fashion and marketing. “Because I had no experience of my own to offer in an internship, I created a learning experience for myself,” she said. “I have gained so much experience owning my own business, and I love doing it. If you can do something now and love it, why wait?”

Watton advertises her products through her Instagram, Pinterest, and website. “In the fashion industry, user-generated content and word-of-mouth are how people learn and trust brands,” she said. “For me, when my clients post photos in their custom, hand-painted pieces, their followers trust my business and may even follow along on social media, or purchase a piece themselves.”

With the growth of social media, Watton believes that 2020 is a great time to run a business as a student. New entrepreneurs can decrease their overhead expenses, reach people within their target audience quickly, and gain instant feedback on their products and services as well as content they produce, she said. 

Photo via e.xclusively on Instagram

Being a student is time-consuming, but Watton has found a balance between classes and work. When she isn’t in class, she is either at a client consultation, sketching and painting designs, posting Instagram content, or updating her website. “When I’m working on e.xclusively, it could be five minutes spent on a social media post or five hours spent painting,” she said. “It definitely depends on my schedule, my orders, and what my goals are at the moment.” 

John McGrinder is another student who runs his own business while managing classes and extracurriculars. Originally from Downingtown, PA, McGrinder is a sophomore at James Madison University, and the mind behind Renegade Sports.

Renegade Sports, a sports-focused apparel company, started in 2016 in McGrinder’s sophomore year of high school. The idea for the company arose from a class project with a friend, and was originally called Seal Team Sports. 

“My friend Evan knew I was involved in graphic design for sports Instagram pages for fun, but he asked me if I wanted to help him with a new project for his class,” McGrinder said. “I absolutely loved working with sports and designing, and it was a fun way to set aside some extra money for school while doing something I loved.”

PHOTO: Renegade Sports on Instagram

Similar to Watton, McGrinder mainly advertises his business through his Instagram. Most of his work is done on his phone or iPad because he makes the designs himself. “I have them with me in case I have an idea for a design while out on the go or at home,” he said. “With big brands like Barstool Sports out there, I always try to get my ideas onto my products and website as fast as possible, to be the first out there with my idea on a certain trend,” he said. 

McGrinder has a busy schedule as a student, but he finds time between classes at JMU and work to make designs. “I really work best when I’m inspired by a new player or trending team,” he said. “Not every day for me is involved with creating a design, but I’m always checking on my site, tracking sales, and keeping my eye on the sports world for new ideas.” 

Running a store in 2020 as a student allows McGrinder to use his brand as a creative outlet. On top of gaining experience, it allowed him to get involved in marketing before learning about it in any of his major-related classes. 

Renegade Sports also helped open doors into the marketing world as this past summer. McGrinder worked with the Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 MVP, Von Miller, in creating some mock-ups for a shirt to commemorate his 100th sack in this past season. “Overall, running Renegade Sports has been so valuable to me in exploring business and marketing, but also in allowing myself to be more creative outside of schoolwork,” he said. 

PHOTO: Renegade Sports on Instagram

Another entrepreneur student, University of Richmond sophomore Anthony Moody, owns and operates his clothing company, Redeemed Generation. Moody started his brand when he was 13, and it has been steadily growing ever since. 

Moody’s day starts and ends with marketing, which he believes is the most important part of the business. “It’s all about connecting with influencers, commenting on posts, interacting with followers, and building the brand,” he said. “It makes a big difference when companies are active on Instagram, and have a page that really showcases the brand — so that’s really crucial for me.”

In addition to running all the marketing for his business on his Instagram and website, Moody also makes and prints everything in his room. “My room is full of presses, dryers, and paint, because I make it all,” he said. “I’m actually looking for a small office where I’ll be able to work. With the way the business has grown in terms of sales and inventory, it’s a lot to keep in my room.”

Photo via Redeemed Generation on Instagram

Moody originally found his love for art in elementary school, but pencils and paper weren’t enough for him. Being a student and a business owner has been a challenge, and the balance has been one of the most difficult things, “It’s worth it,” he said. “It’s my passion, and it’s what I love doing.” 

In addition to Redeemed Generation, Moody also prints clothes for outside groups like dance teams and class reunions. “With all the materials and machines I have in my room, as well as the skills I’ve gained from Redeemed Generation, expanding to print clothes for other people was not that big of a challenge,” he said. 

Redeemed Generation is mainly based out of Moody’s dorm room, because the presses and machines make it hard to travel in terms of production. His ideas and art, on the other hand, are constantly on his mind — regardless of where he is. 

Photo via Redeemed Generation on Instagram

“My brand has become my life,” he said. “A lot of people around me always plan and take on so much, working solely to build their resume. I just make clothes because I love them, and it’s a way for me to express myself.”

Overall, these three students are just a small glimpse into the larger world of student business owners. Students everywhere are starting their own companies on top of their already-stressful college lives. It’s time we give these students the recognition they deserve. While they’re going to class, doing homework, and writing papers, they’re also running the companies of the future. 

Top Photo via e.xclusively on Instagram

A Second Chance For Pets: Pioneering Affordable Vet Care

Nate Malinowski | February 18, 2020

Topics: animal care, animals, carytown business, helping hands, helping hands richmond, Jacqueline Morasco, local business, Lori Pasternak, pet care, richmond, richmond business, richmond va, Veronica Gerber, vet, veterinary care

At Richmond’s Helping Hands, pet owners’ financial situation won’t ever stand in the way of ensuring that animals receive the care they deserve. 

While the walls of Helping Hands showcase accolades from prestigious media outlets and veterinary associations, it is the hand-written notes of thanks and saved lives alongside their awards that mean the most to every employee of Helping Hands.

Founded on the premise of giving animals the chance to live, despite their owners’ economic situation, Helping Hands helps save the lives of many animals in the Richmond area that would otherwise be euthanized. Their slogan, “Preventing Economic Euthanasia,” can be found on much of the animal surgical center and dentistry facility’s promotional material, and it is this sentiment that drives every employee of the facility.

“I like to say the names of the dogs when they come in, because I know they go through a lot,” said Veronica Gerber, marketing manager for Helping Hands. “We can be someone’s last hope.” 

Gerber is an animal lover herself, as is demonstrated by her wrist tattoo of a paw print from a beloved animal. She embodies Helping Hands’ work not only in the community, but throughout the country. When she first learned of the group, Gerber was moved by stories in the media of their co-founder, Dr. Lori Pasternak. She knew she wanted to help Pasternak’s cause. In their time open, Helping Hands has seen people come from 38 states to have their pets treated at the facility. The doctors themselves come from all over the world, including one from Scotland.

The clinic has its roots in Carytown, and began with two working mothers who wanted to make a difference. Pasternak and Jacqueline Morasco had a vision for affordable treatment that first sparked their idea. Frustrated at the thought of turning clients away or euthanizing beloved pets because of expenses, Pasternak knew the system needed to change.

PHOTO: Helping Hands

“She hated [the idea of] putting down pets for money, or lack thereof,” Gerber said. Pasternak’s husband devised a business model that became the template for the business. That vision for affordable treatment drives Helping Hands to this day. 

When they first opened, the owners made a point to offer their services at flat rates, and work to save every animal. The staff worried about whether anyone would show up; not only did they need to find customers, but if they did, they weren’t sure whether the business model would be sustainable enough for the practice to last. Yet Helping Hands stuck true to their core mission, and slowly saw an influx of loyal customers. 

Everything changed in 2012, when Good Morning America ran a story about their work. Gerber gets choked up to this day about it, as the national show echoed her love and compassion for all animals. Good Morning America chose Dr. Pasternak for their “Work with Me” segment, in which one of the anchors from the show visits a business and works with them for a day. Featuring Helping Hands with Dr. Pasternak as the star, viewers were not only educated about how stressful the job of running a low-cost veterinary service is, but also saw how caring Dr. Pasternak is for her patients.

Thanks to Good Morning America, Helping Hands saw a rapid increase in customers — and their clientele soon extended beyond the Richmond area. People began coming into Helping Hands from all over the country. Gerber remembers people traveling from New England just to get their animals’ teeth cleaned. The compassion shown daily at the clinic keeps people coming back. Clients fell in love not only with their highly professional and excellent doctors, but the facility’s mission, and their caring treatment of every animal.

PHOTO: Helping Hands

When Gerber looks back at the story, she laughs at the pictures of Thor the chihuahua in Times Square. But as the story continues, she grows emotional as the video encompasses everything that Helping Hands is built on. She notes that Helping Hands’ attempt to value every animal even extends to their human employees; early in her time at the business, despite the facility’s manner of operation keeping it from having excess funds, Gerber received retirement options in a 401k. At Helping Hands, care and love are shown not just to the animals, but in all aspects of life. 

“Helping Hands anchors me,” Gerber tells me. A native Philadelphian, she says she “wouldn’t be in Richmond without Helping Hands.” Gerber’s passion and excitement echoes throughout the facility, and it’s apparent that all the employees share her sentiment. The team jumps through hoops to ensure their goal of saving animals is met. While they are not a full veterinary service, they are often recommended as a solution to an ever-growing problem of cost-related euthanasia. By adhering to flat rates for surgeries and dental work, and choosing not to board animals, Helping Hands keeps the facility available for as many pets as possible without focusing on profits. 

Business eventually outgrew their small, friendly original location in Carytown, which barely had enough room for three visitors in the lobby. Their new location near The Diamond boasts a spacious and vibrant waiting room, aimed at accommodating the nervous pet owners that walk into Helping Hands every day. The community surrounding their new location is the perfect space — nestled between the Richmond SPCA, Meals on Wheels, FeedMore (a local nonprofit), The Richmond Food bank, and the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, there wasn’t a better place for them to land.

PHOTO: Helping Hands

While saving lifes is often stressful, a poodle named Chilly with blue hair and a pink tail made the workplace more cheerful during his life. With his loving gaze and playful demeanor, Chilly was the pet of a staff member, and was always in the office greeting people that walked in. Chilly himself was a celebrity before passing; he appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most expensive dog wedding. In typical Helping Hands fashion, this seemingly-ridiculous event in New York City raised $150,000 for the Humane Society of New York. The event was organized by Wendy Diamond, an animal welfare activist, to benefit the society. The wedding featured plenty of outrageous, expensive garments and an orchestra, and the event was topped off by a cake made by TLC’s Cake Boss, all kindly donated for the cause.  

Gerber loves to reminisce about the experiences that Helping Hands has brought her, but the celebrations can only happen because of the sacrifices they’ve made for their mission. As she tells her stories, there are animals receiving life-saving surgery in the next room. “Every day I have been here, at least one animal is saved,” Gerber says. “Every day.”

Every morning, animals come through the wide doors at Helping Hands and line the hallway for the 7:30 am drop-off. Gerber uses this time to meet each furry friend, helping both pets and owners relax. The waiting area boasts numerous couches, TVs, a Wii gaming system, and puzzles, so owners can be comfortable while their best friends endure surgery or dental work.

PHOTO: Helping Hands

This area, aptly named Chilly’s Chill Zone and Client Lounge, even includes a kitchen with refreshments for clients. It is in this area where guests often write their thanks to the doctors and staff at Helping Hands. It is difficult to read the many testimonials with a dry eye.

­Today, Helping Hands boasts seven receptionists. It’s a long shout from 10 years ago, when only one employee handled all their desk work. The two surgery rooms are adjoined by a room for doctors and assistants to relax after performing operations. Animals have enough space in their kennels to be loved by the staff as they prepare for their treatment, and the attention to detail has trickled down through every aspect of their operation. 

While Dr. Pasternak doesn’t work at the facility as often anymore, her vision with Morasco is still brought to life each day by the staff — and plenty of animals are benefiting from it. As the new year begins, non-emergency dental visits are already booked through May, so plan ahead to schedule a visit for your pet. 

When Helping Hands began, they wondered if anyone would come. For 10 years now, that’s never been a problem. There are always animals in need of a helping hand.

Top Photo via Helping Hands

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • ⟩

sidebar

sidebar-alt

Copyright © 2021 · RVA Magazine on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Close

    Event Details

    Please fill out the form below to suggest an event to us. We will get back to you with further information.


    OR Free Event

    CONTACT: [email protected]