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LANETT — An Easter weekend distribution and voter registration drive took place Saturday morning outside the Berean Church International in the West Shawmut community. Valley Community Outreach (a.k.a. The Village) and the Tree of Life joined forces to provide free items to long lines of people who came out. More than 50 people registered to vote.

The items that were distributed were provided by Walmart and Amazon. They included all kinds of Easter-related items, Mother’s Day gifts, kids’ bikes, household items, men’s and women’s shoes, apparel, and gardening tools.

“We want to thank Walmart and Amazon for providing us with a lot of really good items,” said The Village spokesman Clint Gilder. “We were able to hold raffles for some children’s bicycles, three TVs, some air fryers, a tent with netting, and a microwave oven. We couldn’t have asked for a better day weather-wise. It’s really beautiful today, and we are so pleased with this turnout. We want to thank Pastors Vernon and Valerie Carter for being such great hosts here at the Berean Church. We appreciate Mayor Jamie Heard for being here with us today. The City of Lanett is very supportive of what we are doing, and we appreciate that.”

The Berean Church is located on Magnolia Road across from Newt’s Food Machine. The goal of the church is to magnify God by equipping its attendees with abundant life through worship, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism, and ministry.

“It’s good to see this turnout this morning,” said Mayor Heard. “On behalf of the city I want to thank Valley Community Outreach and the Tree of Life for putting on this event today. We appreciate the good work they are doing in the local area.”

Valley Community Outreach is made up of men and women who grew up in the Valley area, and went on to successful careers outside the Valley but still love the place they have always called home. Free distributions and other community events are ways of giving back to the place that got them off to a good start in life.