Sept. 19 — VALDOSTA — Scott Park filled with music and vendors for the community-wide family gathering Saturday.
The Communitywide Family Reunion is an annual event hosted by the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Chapter of the National Council of Black Women, which invites families to a day of activities, said Yurshema Flanders, president of the Communitywide Family Reunion the community .
The gathering included bounce houses, a play, music and offered free products, marriage and family therapy resources and financial literacy materials for families, she said.
This is the first meeting NCNW has organized since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attorney Karla Walker, chair of the section, said: “We are very pleased to be back for our ninth annual community-wide family reunion. We were able to plan and set it up in three to four months with the help of our dedicated members”.
Walker and Flanders said that through one donor, Second Harvest of South Georgia provided more than 11,000 pounds of fresh produce to the community for free.
Telecommunications company Hargray donated T’s Treats which provided free hot dogs, seafood rice and nachos.
The organization recognized two outstanding community leaders, Caterina Orr and Linda Denton.
“It has been an effort of brotherhood and commitment to service as each of them took a part in making this event a success,” Flanders said. “There are many resources, vendors and entertainment for the community to learn about.”
Walker said: “I am grateful to Yurshema and his team of members for organizing this event so quickly. It has been very rewarding to see the turnout and the amount of resources provided.”
