Charities which serve local families were thankful to receive donations collected during Chantilly Farm's Heart of the Holidays event. The amounts of food and clothing that were amassed by the drive are what made the day a success, said the  organizers.
Since many in the local community are struggling to make ends meet, these items can make a big difference this holiday season, thay added. In fact, the food donations alone were one of the largest ever received by the Friends & Food program in Floyd.
Randy McDaniel, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church and administrator of the Friends and Food program, said, "We're so thankful for Chantilly Farm and the tremendous effort they made on their recent food drive. At a time when we've seen record levels of need in the community, it's so encouraging to see organizations like this stepping forward to help fill the need. Out Friends and Food program recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, and I must say, this is one of the largest donations of food we've ever received."
A variety of new clothing was collected during the charity drive, and it was donated to the United Way of the New River Valley. The organization serves the counties of Floyd and Montgomery, as well as the city of Radford. UW's Stephanie Roberts commented, "It is through the generosity and community support of donors like Chantilly Farm that we are able to provide services and support which are vital to improving the quality of life for our neighbors in need. Christmas is an especially important time for the families we serve."
To stay informed about the latest events and activities at Chantillly Farm, visit chantillyfarm.com or facebook.com/chantillyfarm.