Farmville Chamber joins PSR for kick-off of Subaru’s Share the Love Event

FARMVILLE, Va. (December 3, 2024) – The 2024 Subaru Share the Love Kickoff Event was held in conjunction with the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber After Hours gathering on Thursday, November 21, at Piedmont Senior Resources (PSR) located at 1413 S. Main Street. The event included food, music and information about the event with the ambiance of an “old-fashioned Christmas.”

Thursday’s event also offered an opportunity for Chamber members and the general public to donate to PSR’s Santa for Seniors Project. This annual holiday event provides Christmas bags for homebound older adults in the seven counties served by the local nonprofit. The goal this year is 500 gift bags. 

 In addition to monetary donations for Santa for Seniors, PSR is collecting non-perishable food items and toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, bath towels, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, small containers of laundry detergent, soap, and blankets. Items can be donated in person at 1413 S. Main Street, online at www.psraaa.org and on Amazon Smile under “Piedmont Senior Resources Area Agency on Aging.”

Labeled donation boxes are at many locations around Farmville as well as in surrounding counties. The easiest way to contribute is by using the QR codes on PSR’s donation boxes, website and social media posts.

As in years past, donated items for Santa for Seniors will be packed by staff and volunteers and delivered to homebound clients during the week before Christmas.

“Our packing parties are set this year for December 12 and 13,” PSR Director of Nutrition & Transportation Geoff Angle said. “Volunteers are welcome to join us at PSR on these dates.”

Angle, who joined the PSR staff this year, is heading up this year’s Santa for Seniors project.

Letterpress Communications will return as title sponsor for Santa for Seniors this year. Kinex Telecom, Joe Hines, American Soldier Lawncare, Memory Movers Estate Liquidators, IP Structures, William Terry Handyman Services, and other local and private sponsors have pledged their support and will be recognized as the campaign moves forward.

“We welcome other local sponsors to join this worthwhile project for homebound seniors,” Angle added.

“These Christmas bags mean so much to our clients,” PSR CEO Justine Young noted. “One of our drivers told me that clients often have tears in their eyes when the gift bags are delivered. Some don’t have any family — Santa for Seniors will bring the only gift they’ll receive.”

“What could be worse than to be forgotten during the holiday season?” Angle said. “PSR is proud to bring a little joy into the lives of our seniors — we believe that’s what the Christmas spirit is all about!” 

Meals on Wheels is one of four national participating charities to benefit from the annual Subaru Share the Love event. Subaru and its retailers will donate a minimum of $300 to these charities for every new vehicle leased or sold through January 2, 2025. National charity partners include the ASPCA, Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and National Park Foundation.

 “The grant funding we receive from this event also funds multiple PSR programs,” Young said.   

“This vital support keeps seniors in their own homes, where they want to be,” Young concluded. “We’re incredibly grateful to Subaru and its retailers for supporting our organization and the seniors we serve.”