By Jessica Dillon
Christmas Cheer is now accepting applications, toys, and food donations for its annual holiday program.
The organization is located on the second floor of the Clocktower Building, Suite 220, 300 Franklin St., Martinsville. Volunteers will take applications in person and notify families by mail if they are accepted.
The application period opened on Monday, Oct. 20, and will run through Friday, Nov. 21. The office will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Each application must be completed in person, one per household.
Applicants must provide their name, address, and other personal information, such as housing status and vehicle ownership. “We have to verify that applicants are residents of Martinsville-Henry County,” said volunteer Vicky Clark. The type of documentation accepted can be a bill or even junk mail, “anything showing their address.”
Parents also must show proof of guardianship for children, such as a birth certificate or custody papers. “If custody is involved, we need documentation to ensure the toys go to the right children,” Clark said.
Christmas Cheer also distributes bikes for children, food boxes, blankets, and pillows for the elderly.
“Our food boxes are very generous — we estimate each at about $75,” Clark said. “We focus on senior citizens who are struggling to pay bills each month, which other programs don’t always do.”
Donations of toys, food, or funds are welcome. Anyone wishing to donate in honor of someone can send items to Christmas Cheer, P.O. Box 540, Martinsville, VA, 24114, or contact Executive Director Julie Moore at 910-262-3545 or via the organization’s Facebook page. Pickup for donations may also be arranged.
Christmas Cheer has historically relied on donations from local businesses, though some, like Hanes and Sara Lee, are no longer in the area. Volunteers encourage community members to contribute any new, unwrapped toys to help ensure every child receives a gift.
