Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

VALLEY — The Kiwanis Club of Valley had a very successful fundraiser with a Christmas raffle that raised close to $2,000.

It was timed to fall just before Black Friday, and a winning ticket was drawn during the club’s weekly meeting during the noon hour on Wednesday.

Mary Susan Underwood was the winner of a horde of items that filled a table inside the fellowship hall at Langdale Methodist Church, where the club meets on Wednesdays. Included were gift cards from Walmart, Amazon and Renasant Bank, items donated by local businesses such as Ponder’s, Chambley’s, Hood’s Christmas Shop, Terri’s Mill Village Cafe, Long Beach Tanning and Kenny Knox Tire, a Yeti cooler donated by WOW!, an Auburn wine cooler and glasses, a blanket, hat and umbrella from SouthState Bank, a Southern Living cookbook, a Christmas blanket and pillow, a Christmas candle holder and a sidewalk chalk kit for the kids.

The raffle was the club’s major project for the fall, and members of the club were well pleased with ticket sales. Members have also been busy getting a new look for the Nativity, which the club sponsors each year across from the church and the the Iron Bridge. The Nativity will be on display when the City of Valley has its annual tree lighting program in early December. Mildred Langley has done a wonderful job of sewing new outfits for the Nativity figures. The garments she has made will be adorning the Nativity figures. New manikins have been ordered to represent them. The lead wise man will be wearing a new turban.

It should make for some nice viewing. People are advised to admire it from a safe distance. When one gets too close there are electrical cords and portable lights they can stumble over. Photographing the setting is encouraged, but don’t touch the actual figures.

Members of the club want to thank the Charter Foundation for donations they have made to support the Nativity display.

Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of Valley each year gives scholarships to deserving local high school graduates and donates hundreds of dollars to local nonprofit organizations.