By NICOLE LOGGINS/Staff Writer

VANDIVER — More than 1,000 people came to the Vandiver Church of God on March 31 to participate in the church’s first Easter egg drop.

The church dropped more than 10,000 Easter eggs filled with candy and prizes from a helicopter.

The egg drop was a free event for the community and the turnout exceeded the church’s expectation of 500 attendees.

“We had a great turn out, we were hoping to get at least 500 but we got over 1,000,” said Bonnie Meacham, a Vandiver Church of God member.

The church had nearly 100 volunteers who helped make the event a success, Meacham said.

“The event was really to reach out to the community and the surrounding areas and for families to come out and have a fun time with their kids,” Meacham said.

The church had two $200 cash prize eggs and other prizes that were given out to children and adults.

“We are planning to make it an annual tradition,” Meacham said.