“We just wanted to be more a part of the community,” said Melaney Etheridge, a main coordinator of the first annual Brookhaven Community Block Party happening Saturday.

Etheridge belongs to Pleasant Ridge Pentecostal Church, the host for the free event. Etheridge said the church is way out in Wesson, and they don’t get as much interaction with the rest of the community as much as they might like.

“We wanted to have that fellowship; be a part of the community and give back,” she said.

Out of a desire to connect with and unify the community has become what has the makings of an excellent block party.

The community block party will be held on Industrial Park Road in the field next to the Health Department, near Kid’s Kingdom and Anointed Nephrology, where the other coordinator of the event, Dr. James Hall, practices. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with live Christian music and entertainment throughout the event including Andi Cotten and Tyler Bridge, Lillian Lilly, Ontario Showers and more.

Etheridge said door prizes will be drawn for every hour, with prizes including a Kindle Fire, $50 Wal-Mart giftcard, a rocking chair from Perkin’s Hardware, $25 gift certificate to Broma’s and $15 to Pasta Junction among others. Etheridge advises people to enter their names for the drawing at a booth that will be close to the road.

Several smokers will offer barbecue plates of chicken, ribs, brisket, hot dogs and more, with a barbecue smoking competition for chicken and ribs whose winner will be announced at 12:30 p.m. Etheridge said cooks who would like to participate still have time to enter, and need to apply with Etheridge or her mother at their store, Common Cents and Values variety resale store on South Jackson Street.

About 20 local business vendors will set up to sell or offer products and services, Etheridge said. Some businesses and vendors will set up with booths, some of which include Pink Lemonade offering on-spot embroidery; King’s Daughters’ Medical Center offering free blood pressure and bone density scans; and CK Photography that will display a vintage photo booth for mini photo sessions. A unique feature of the event will be a cardboard ministry, Etheridge said. At 2 and 4 p.m., around 20 or 25 people will share an example of God’s work in their lives, with one side of a cardboard sign describing a trial or tragedy and on the other side a testimony of what God has brought and done through that difficult circumstance. This aspect promises to be a touching, interesting and faithful display of God’s presence within people’s lives.

“We’re just hoping everybody has a good time and enjoys themselves,” Etheridge said, adding that considerations for next year include moving the date to a cooler month, possibly September.

The Pleasant Ridge Pentecostal Church booth will sell T-shirts for the event for $15, as well as Mildred Britt’s famous homemade pralines.

For more information, visit the Brookhaven Facebook page Brookhaven Community Block Party, or contact Melissa Etheridge at 601-695-6774.