THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411220237
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Religion
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Throughout the day Saturday, , Main Street Baptist Church will have a special celebration that could help make the up-coming holiday season happier for children throughout the area.
That's when the church will celebrate pre-Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa, according to Joan Edwards, who is chairing the event for the church, is the African-American answer to the celebration of Christmas. The holiday has religious connections, Edwards said, but there is more involved than simply religion.
``Kwanzaa deals mainly with unity, unity of the races,'' Edwards said. ``It encourages black entrepreneurship. It encourages coming together for the good of the community.''
The event is a fund-raiser to help buy food, toys and clothing for underprivileged youngsters - black and white - in the Isle of Wight area.
The church will hold an ecumenical service from noon to 1 p.m. After that, local vendors as well as several from out of state will set up tables in the social hall to sell gift items, clothing, food, crafts, books, art and garage-sale items to benefit the cause. MEMO: For more information about the pre-Kwanzaa celebration or to find out
how to reserve a table for merchandise sales, call the church office at
357-2604.
by CNB