Take Time To Serve

With the holiday season fast approaching, many people are focused on things like the first snowfall and carving turkey. However, many groups and businesses in the local Farmville area are putting their full attention on what they can do to benefit the community. They’re holding various events, with the help of volunteers and donations, that will provide assistance to those who need it most.
 
One such group that’s working hard to help the community is FACES Food Pantry, who works year-round to provide food to those who require financial assistance. Every week, they provide food to an average of 960 households in the Farmville area, which is no small feat. They are an entirely volunteer-run organization, and their biggest need for volunteers is on Thursdays from 9AM - 12PM, Thursday afternoons from 4:30PM - 6PM, and Saturday mornings from 8AM - 10:30AM, all of which take place at their warehouse at 416 South Street in Farmville. These volunteer positions are for receiving and sorting food, bagging the food, and distributing the food, respectively. Another way to participate with this organization is by donating either non-perishable food or money, as even donating a dollar can provide ten pounds of food to those who need it. More information about FACES Food Pantry, their mission, and how to contribute can be found by going to www.facesfoodpantry.com.
 
Another group that caters to a large portion of the Farmville community is Piedmont Senior Resources. They support those 60 ages and older in not just Prince Edward County, but also the counties of Charlotte, Buckingham, Amelia, Nottoway, Cumberland, and Lunenburg. Their overall mission is to help seniors live healthy, safe, and independent lives in their own homes. Their services include helping seniors with money management, shopping for groceries, providing access for them to healthy meals, and even giving legal assistance if necessary. Of course, Piedmont Senior Resources would be unable to help seniors in our local counties without financial contribution. A donation page and more information into this organization can be found at www.psraaa.org.
 
Throughout Farmville, the Jaycees are known as a group of young professionals who aim to create positive change by hosting events whose profits go directly to support the local community. Their First Fridays, for example are a monthly concert event that are sponsored by many businesses in the community and the profits from those events go towards helping various causes in Farmville. Their upcoming Christmas Parade, which will be December 3rd at 2PM, is open to the public and will be a fun, family-friendly event. The parade will feature groups such as high school bands, fire departments, and nonprofit organizations, so it’s a great way to learn about more people who might need your help. More information about the Farmville Jaycees can be found at www.farmvillejaycees.com.
 
Similar to the Jaycees, the Farmville Rotary is a group noted for their service in the community; after all, their motto is “Service Above Self.” They aim to create programs that help with some of the biggest problems that exist today, including poverty and illiteracy. They also support existing programs for youth, educational programs, and international exchanges. Their weekly meetings, which are open to the public, take place at Charley’s Waterfront Cafe on Mill Street at 12PM every Thursday except the first Thursday of the month. It’s a chance to learn more about the group and what they do while also having a delicious lunch. On January 25th, they’ll be hosting their largest fundraiser, Taste of Farmville, which helps provide funds for the Rotary to donate to the various causes. The event is made up of food donated by places around Farmville, and it’s a great way to help a cause while also having fun. For more information on the Rotary and Taste of Farmville, visit farmvillerotary.org.
 
Many of the organizations around town receive help from one group in particular: The Farmville United Methodist Church. Their local outreach focuses on volunteering with groups like FACES and Meals on Wheels, and they also have national and international programs that you can participate in. For their national program, they send mission groups to certain areas around the country in need. Some places they’ve been include North Carolina, Georgia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Iowa. And if you’d like to volunteer your time and efforts on an even bigger scale, you could participate in their mission trip to Honduras. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please call 434-392-4686 or visit their website at www.farmvilleumc.org.
 
When people think about the holiday season, one thing that tends to come to mind is “It’s A Wonderful Life,” which is a timeless story that many are familiar with. Luckily, the Illyria Theatre Company, which is a professional theater group here in Farmville, will be performing a live radio version of that famous story on December 7th, 8th, and 9th in Longwood’s Jarman Auditorium at 7PM. When buying a ticket to this event, you are given the option to donate $2 of the overall $12 ticket price to various charity organizations, such as Piedmont Senior Resources and Habitat for Humanity. By purchasing a ticket to this fun event at www.illyriatheatrecompany.com, you support both local theatre and local charity. It’s a win-win!
 
Last but certainly not least, the Chamber will be hosting the Holiday House Tour on December 9th from 10AM to 3PM as a fundraiser for both the Chamber and Habitat for Humanity. Tickets, which are on sale now on our website or at our office, are $20 or $30 with a boxed lunch from Uptown Coffee Cafe, and there will be a house built by Habitat for Humanity on the tour. There are also still sponsorship opportunities available for the tour, so contact us!
 
When you’re sitting down with your families this holiday season, don’t forget to take a moment to think about how you can give back to Farmville and the community. These organizations and events are only as great as the volunteers and donations they receive, so keep them in mind when you’re wondering what you can do to help. Happy holidays!