The organizer of the Toys For Tots appeal in Isle of Wight, Southampton and Surry counties is calling on folks to help reach an ambitious target.

A car show at Charlie Daniels Racing, 20128 Isle of Wight Industrial Park Road, Smithfield, on Saturday aims to collect 7,500 toys, said Elizabeth Moose, whose involvement in running the campaign in her area goes back 13 years.

As part of the annual U.S. Marine Corps Reserve appeal, the toys will make for a brighter Christmas for 1,000 or more children, Moose said, providing each child a couple of larger items and several stocking-stuffers.

“That’s a big goal, so we need everybody to help,” Moose said. “It’s going to take everybody bringing toys.”

Registration for the car show runs from 9 to 11 a.m. — each entry costs $20 plus unwrapped toys — and awards will be presented at 2 p.m.

Santa Claus will arrive at the event via Nightingale and will present awards, along with Marines who are present.

“We have a sled he rides from the Nightingale into the crowd,” Moose said.  “He walks around, looks at all the cool cars and talks to people.” Aaron’s Rent to Own has provided small items such as coloring books for Santa to hand out, she added.

The event will also include door prizes and games, as well as live entertainment, including the Smithfield High School band at 11 a.m.

“We should have 100 show cars there,” Moose said, among them a 1970 Plymouth SuperBird, the car from which “The King,” the Richard Petty character in “Cars,” was patterned.

While the event is free, folks are encouraged to bring toys to donate. “It’s our biggest toy drive event of the year, but we continue to collect toys,” Moose said, adding that donation points are all around the area. Folks can also donate, register to receive toys or register to host an event at www.toysfortots.org.

“You select Smithfield, and the toys only benefit families in the area,” Moose said.

Moose said the campaign she’s managing still needs volunteers, especially with the mammoth task of distributing toys just around the corner.

Anyone interested can email smithfieldtoysfortots@gmail.com, or call Moose at 634-8842.

Meanwhile, the campaign got off to a strong start Friday with a stuff-the-bus event at several local schools.

Kevin Goetz, principal at Carrollton Elementary, said members of the wider community as well as the school community donated items that students carried to buses parked in front.

“I’ve been here three years, and we’ve done this all of those three years,” he said.

“We have great kids, and it’s good for them to learn the value of the holidays, giving to others.”