Celebration 2015 Attendees Can Help Restock Area Food Pantries

For the seventh consecutive year, Martinsville Speedway and the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville are joining forces for the Fuel for Families Food Drive at Celebration 2015.

The Fuel for Families Food drive will give everyone attending Celebration 2015 at Martinsville Speedway on July 3 the opportunity to help restock depleted food banks in the area.

People attending the event are urged to bring non-perishable food and personal care items and drop them off at one of several collection areas at entrance gates and in the carnival ride area at Celebration 2015.

“This is a great way to help celebrate Independence Day by helping out our friends and neighbors who may be in need,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “Normally we don’t think of the need being great in the summer, but it is a year-round problem.”

Collection tables for canned goods, personal care items and monetary donations will be set up at the three main entrances to the track.

“Volunteers from food pantries, churches and community service organizations will be collecting canned and nonperishable food items or cash donations at the gates during the Celebration 2015 event,” said Joanie Davis, community initiatives director for the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville.

“For every dollar that is collected, five pounds of food can be purchased for families in need. Please consider picking up a couple of bags of canned goods as you pack your sunscreen, coolers, and chairs for this fun community event. ”

Celebration 2015, a free-to-the-public family event, will begin at 3 p.m. when the carnival rides open. The entertainment portion of the event will begin at 6 p.m. with a performance by Fuzzy Logic followed by the featured musical act, The Tams. The free-to-the public event will also include the area’s largest fireworks display which will begin after The Tams’ performance.

Celebration 2015 sponsors include: American Global Logistics, American National Bank, Ameristaff, Appalachian Power, Applied Felts, Bassett Furniture, Bassett Office Supply, BB&T, Blue Ridge Aquaculture, Brad Parker Insurance Agency, Inc., Burch, Hodges & Stone, Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth, Carter Bank & Trust, Carter Machinery, Casting Logos, City of Martinsville, Collinsville Printing, Commonwealth Laminating, Cool Knobs & Pulls, Cunningham Tire, Dillon Insurance, Eastern Panel, Eastman, First Piedmont, Frith Construction, GS Industries, Henry County, Henry County Baptist Association, Hooker Furniture, Lucy Sale Foundation, Mark Mahoney Family Practice, Martinsville Children’s Foundation, Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce - Jobs.Martinsville.com, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, Millard’s Machinery, Monogram Foods, Nelson Automotive, River Community Bank, RTI, Sarver Cleaning Service, Shenandoah Furniture, Southwest VA Gas, State Farm – Chris Starnes, Steve Martin Trenching, Taco Bell, Tarheel Paper & Supply Co., The Lester Group, TR Properties, Virginia Blower Company, ValleyStar Credit Union, Virginia Mirror, West Window and Zenith Logistics.