For families across Martinsville and Henry County, the annual Christmas Cheer program has become a beacon of hope during the holiday season. The program provides toys, food, and household items to families in need, ensuring children experience the magic of Christmas and families have a meal to share.
Christmas Cheer collects toys throughout the holiday season and opens its office to process applications from families seeking assistance. Parents can apply in person, detailing their family’s needs in a thorough screening process.
“We go over them thoroughly and get all the numbers right,” said Wendy Prilliman, who has led the program since the passing of her husband, Roy Prilliman. “We have a small group that goes through them to make sure everything is right, and we approve as many as we can.”
Those who don’t qualify receive letters notifying them of the decision, but Prilliman emphasizes the effort made to help as many families as possible.
One of the cornerstones of Christmas Cheer is providing age-appropriate toys for children. Volunteers sort through donated toys, ensuring each child receives something special.
“The toys come by age,” Prilliman said. Over the years, she’s witnessed countless touching moments from the program’s recipients.
She recalled one story about a mother who casually mentioned her son needed a bicycle for Christmas. By coincidence, a few bicycles had been donated to the program, and the team decided to surprise the family with an extra gift.
“They took it out there and put it in her car. She got to crying so bad they had to pull her out of the line,” Prilliman said. “She was talking about how her son was going to have the best Christmas she could imagine.”
Beyond toys, Christmas Cheer supports families with practical items. In one instance, a mother who had lost her home to a fire came to the office seeking help. The team stepped in to provide her with a new refrigerator.
“This time of the year people get really nice,” Prilliman noted, highlighting the generosity the program inspires.
Each family also receives a food box, packed with holiday essentials, including hot chocolate with marshmallows.
“We’ve got more compliments on our box,” Prilliman said. The boxes are designed to help families create a warm holiday meal and support them through the season.
Household items like blankets are also distributed to make life more comfortable during the colder months.
The program is sustained entirely by donations and volunteer efforts. Events like the 2024 Christmas Cheer Toy Run on Dec. 7 play a vital role in funding these initiatives.
Families who are approved for assistance visit a pick-up location, where sheriff’s deputies and inmates help load their cars with holiday gifts and supplies.
“The inmates work down at the farm, my husband got it approved. The inmates help a whole lot!” Prilliman said, emphasizing their contributions to spreading holiday cheer.
The program also relies on younger volunteers, including school-aged children, to keep operations running smoothly.
How to Help
Christmas Cheer continues to accept donations and welcomes volunteers to join their efforts. To volunteer, call (276) 618-7121. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 540, Martinsville, VA 24114, or dropped off at the Christmas Cheer office in the Patrick Henry Mall near Wild Magnolia.
