MARTINSVILLE, Va. (November 23, 2010) – Martinsville Speedway and the Grace Network will try to fill a void with this year’s Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive, scheduled for Saturday, December 11 at the Speedway.
The goal, according to Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell and Grace Network Executive Director Jenniffer Jamison, is to make sure those families that may have been missed by other agencies are helped.
“We all know how bad things have been in our area for so long,” said Campbell, noting the unemployment rate in the City of Martinsville remains above 18 percent and is at 13 percent in Henry County. “We know there are some families who are missed by the normal agencies that help families in crisis. The Grace Network, with almost 100 churches involved, has the ability to find these people so we can lend a hand and help them have an enjoyable Christmas.”
Jamison concurred.
“The goal of the partnership between the Speedway and the Grace Network is to reach the families who would not qualify for assistance with other agencies,” said Jamison. “These are the folks that fall through the cracks of other assistance. Either they missed the deadline to be helped or they have children between the ages of 11-15 that cannot be helped by other agencies.”
Jamison also said the Grace Network is working with those other agencies to make sure there are no duplication of efforts.
The Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive will be December 11 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Martinsville Speedway infield.
Anyone donating a new, unwrapped toy or making a $10 donation will get to drive their personal car around the historic half-mile oval. For a $25 donation, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell will give five hot laps around the track in one of Martinsville Speedway’s pace cars. Participants will receive a certificate of completion from Campbell.
As has become a tradition, the Martinsville Speedway staff will be manning the infield concession stand on Saturday, making and serving the Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog™. Hot dogs and Pepsi products are $1 each, with proceeds going toward purchasing toys.
Santa Claus will be making his annual appearance at the track at noon and will listen to the wishes of boys and girls.
A day earlier, December 10, Campbell will climb atop the Martinsville Speedway entrance sign at 8 a.m. and remain there until $20,000 in donations for the Toy Drive are received.
The Grace Network is in charge of indentifying those in need, purchasing toys with funds raised and then distributing them.
“This partnership allows the churches in the community to refer families and then add a personal touch to the distribution of toys to families,” explained Jamison. “They might add food or fellowship, they might wrap the gifts before presenting. This is a way we can reach out personally to these families.”
Anyone who would like to donate a toy, but cannot make it to the Toy Drive, can drop them off at the Martinsville Speedway ticket office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
