THE STORY BEHIND HELLO GIFT GIVERS
Thoughtful giving, shaped by real life.
I’m Lori Vanderheyden, founder of Hello Gift Givers.
I believe thoughtful giving begins with noticing—the things someone loves, the season they’re in, and the little details that make them who they are.
Here, you’ll find gifts for celebrations, everyday connection, fresh beginnings, and moments when words feel hard. My hope is to make choosing a little easier and giving a little more personal.
Because a thoughtful gift can say: “I noticed. I remembered. You matter.”
A Little of My Story
My perspective has been shaped by years in special education, graduate training in marriage and family therapy, raising five children, and learning firsthand what loss can ask of a family.
I’m also creative, curious, and familiar with having several trains of thought leave the station at once. Between my teacher brain, mom brain, ADHD brain, and widow’s brain, there’s usually an idea looking for somewhere to land.
When my husband died, people wanted to help—but often didn’t know how.
As the years passed, people knowing my experience would ask me again and again:
“What should I give someone who’s grieving?”
“What actually helped?”
“What did you need most?”
Those questions stayed with me. They helped spark the idea for Hello Gift Givers: a place where someone could find a thoughtful starting point when choosing feels difficult.
Joy belongs here, too. The birthday surprise that makes someone laugh. A gift tied to a favorite hobby. A family tradition worth repeating. A small, unexpected something that says, “This made me think of you.”
All of those moments deserve care.
The right gift doesn’t have to fix what hurts. Sometimes it simply says, “I’m here.”
My Promise to You
I’ll begin with the person.
Their interests, preferences, routines, and real life guide the choices here. A diagnosis, age, or occasion is only one part of someone’s story.
I’ll help you understand the fit.
I aim to explain why a gift might suit someone and what to consider, including sensory preferences, space, effort, and budget.
I’ll keep room for delight.
Gifts can be playful, beautiful, useful, comforting, or wonderfully unexpected. Sometimes someone’s favorite thing is exactly the right thing.
I’ll be clear about my recommendations.
I’ll distinguish researched selections from anything I’ve personally tried and clearly identify affiliate links.
I’ll help with the words, too.
A short note or a personal detail can make a gift feel more like you—and more meaningful to the person receiving it.
You don’t have to find something extraordinary to show someone they matter. A little attention is a lovely place to begin.
Hello Gift Givers Guides
WHAT SHAPES THE GUIDES
When Giving Creates More Good
Giving has always been about more than the gift itself.
As Hello Gift Givers grows, part of our mission is to support organizations doing meaningful work for children, families, and people navigating life’s tender seasons. These are causes we believe in and want our community to know about.
