The Heart of Virginia Christmas Mother (HOVCM) will have two more application days for families applying for assistance. According to HOVCM President Kate Pickett Eggleston, the days will be Nov. 11, 10 a.m.-noon, and Nov. 19, 1-3 p.m., at the Barbara Rose Johns Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library.

Regarding volunteering, she said the organization is in need of volunteers for distribution week, setting up the shopping area, organizing toys, shopping for toys and distribution day.

“To volunteer for any of our events or to help with administrative work, including phone calls, please email heartofvirginiachristmasmother@gmail.com,” Eggleston said.

She said fundraising efforts have been on target.

“We have currently raised $9,582 this year,” Eggleston said. “In order to reach our goal, we need to keep up the momentum.”

She said although it seems that Christmas is months away, “we need donations as soon as possible in order to have time to shop for the toys and to meet our goal before distribution day, which is Dec. 6.”

In 2016, the organization raised more than $28,000 to serve 250 children in the Heart of Virginia.

HOVCM will be selling teddy bears with the “A Farmville Christmas 2017” logo as well as ornaments at the Christmas tree lighting event Nov. 17 at the High Bridge Trail Plaza. That event will start at 5 p.m. and grand illumination will be at 6 p.m.

“All proceeds of the bears and ornaments go directly to buying gifts for the children,” Eggleston said. “We will be participating in a few events with Longwood Athletics in which participants can attend a basketball game and donate a toy instead of buying a ticket.”

She said dates and times for those events will be announced next week.

“We also have a unique opportunity that will allow those who want to donate to get their children involved — more information next week,” Eggleston said.

She said to learn more about the application and approval process, visit the organization’s website at heartofvirginiachristmasmother.org.

The HOVCM program is a nonprofit charitable organization that was formed in 2016 with the purpose of serving the community by providing those in need with clothes, toys, books and other gift items during the holiday season. Prince Edward County Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Clark was chosen as the 2017 Christmas Mother in June.