Sweet Saturday To Provide A Break From Disaster Relief
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e Downtown Vi dalia Association has changed up their final Sweet Saturday event – scheduled for Saturday, October 12, — as the event is now focused around helping the community to heal from the destruction and turmoil caused by Hurricane Helene.
Though the event previously focused on a theme of “Food Trucks and Flannels,” the upcoming Sweet Saturday will now be a time of reflection and healing, as local pastors and musicians help lead the community in a time of praise and worship.
“The damage and destruction that Hurricane Helene brought into our area is like nothing I have ever seen before,” Down- town Vidalia Association Executive Director Tonya Parker emphasized. “Our community has been amazing – everyone has banded together to help each other. Yet, I know it has taken a large physical and mental toll on everyone. I wanted to change the event to give everyone a chance to take a break from cleaning up the storm’s aftermath, and let everyone come together to worship and thank God for His protection, while also having fun. We’re trying to uplift spirits and help people heal.”
Food trucks and vendors will be set up within Ronnie A. Dixon City Park for attendees to peruse, and a live performance by Lava Lamp will end out the day.
Parker will also be giving out $475 of DVA Dollars, which are gift certificates that may be spent at businesses within the Downtown Vidalia Asso ciation. “Now more than ever, we need to support our local businesses,” she remarked.
She also stated that the local Toombs Strong disaster relief group would be set up selling t-shirts to the public to raise funds for the area, and the Down- town Vidalia Association will have a booth to sell shirts to raise money for local merchants. “With ev- ery DVA shirt that is pur chased, the buyer will get $10 of DVA dollars," Park er explained. “We want to drive business to our local shops as much as we can. They have been greatly affected by the storms we’ve encountered this year.”
The event will be held from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, at Ronnie A. Dixon City Park. For more information, call (912) 537-8033.
