by Noella Noelophile®
“Take a deep breath,” advised Operation Easter Basket volunteer coordinator Jim “Woody” Woods.
Volunteers, gathered at Bay Shore Church in Long Beach’s Belmont Shore just before ten on Friday morning, stood by for action.
Everyone was waiting for more supplies to fill these waiting Easter baskets. Body wash and shampoo, which go in every basket, were on their way.
Completed baskets, arranged by age groups, awaited their recipients.
The goal, for this fourteenth edition of “Operation Easter Basket”: 2,900 Easter baskets, assembled and given to numerous charities. The baskets would be distributed to youth, ages newborn up to age 16. Both boys and girls would receive Easter baskets.
“We gave out 900 baskets yesterday,” one volunteer said.
The needed personal-hygiene items arrived. And the action began.
With assembly stations set up in the church hall, volunteers assembled and wrapped.
Personal-hygiene supplies, crayons, toys, books and, of course, Easter candy went into each basket. Baskets were created for boys or girls, from newborns up to age 16.
The first of the day’s recipients pulled up outside, in their truck. A “basket brigade” ensued.
Due to their essential nature, the body wash and shampoo had virtually disappeared from the set-up station by 10:05 am. But more supplies were coming.
Basket production stopped again, briefly. But volunteers were busily “staging” the numbers of baskets to be given to each organization.
These would be carried out when the next vehicle arrived–which it did, in short order.
Meanwhile, more completed baskets were arriving at the church hall.
Coordinators kept a tally of the number of baskets being donated, and to which nonprofits they were going.
The morning flew, supplies went into more baskets, and suddenly, it was almost noon.
“I’ve got three people at Dollar Tree, getting shampoo and body wash,” called nonprofit Community Action Team Justin Rudd during an out-of-supplies lull. “I’m going to order pizza.”
The timing was great for a lunch break. 
More donated supplies arrived, just after the pizza disappeared.
Fueled by carbs and the festive community spirit, the volunteers resumed work.
Community organizations’ vehicles arrived for basket pickup, at regular intervals.
And throughout the afternoon, “Operation Easter Basket”‘s totals were climbing, towards that goal of 2,900 baskets.
“Thank you, everybody, for volunteering,” Woody told the volunteers mid-afternoon. “As you can see, it’s an interesting beehive/anthill experience.”
That beehive, or anthill, erupted in applause shortly thereafter.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Woody announced, “as of now, you have created 2,362 baskets. We have distributed 2,005.”
I started to look at the clock, to get some sense of how many had been created, by what time. But–I still don’t know.
That’s because, just then, two more nonprofits showed up to collect their requested baskets. And it was “all hands on deck”–or rather, on foot, with baskets in hand.
The day seemed to fly by. Four o’clock arrived, in a final flurry of baskets going out the door. Three charities had sent their vehicles to accept the remaining ones.
So, did “Operation Easter Basket”, 2018, reach its goal of 2,900 baskets for charity?
No.
It surpassed it–with the day’s final tally at 3,138 baskets completed and given to the organizations!
“There will be some happy children (this weekend),” Justin commented, at one point.
And there are some tired and happy volunteers in Long Beach this evening. A warm “thank you” to Community Action Team for our favorite Long Beach Easter community tradition!
And, by the way, nonprofit C.A.T., courtesy of Long Beach “Chief Inspiration Officer” Justin Rudd, produces more than sixty events throughout the year!
If you’re in the Long Beach area and but couldn’t make “Operation Easter Basket”, you and/or your family might like to join them for a 30-Minute Beach Cleanup. Or the 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade. Or the Free Community Spaghetti Supper…the Howl’oween Dog Parade…the “Joy to the World” Christmas concert…or…or…or…
Here’s a link for you to choose some events to “explore, dream and discover”, as Justin says on his website. Meanwhile, have a very Happy Easter!