by Noella Noelophile®
We’re putting away the ornaments (sigh). And putting up the hearts for Valentine’s Day.
And–starting to think about Operation Easter Basket!
2019 marks the fifteenth year for this fantastic community gathering/celebration/opportunity to give back. And if you’re in the Long Beach area, you can get involved today!
What is Operation Easter Basket? A drive, by local nonprofit Community Action Team, to create and collect Easter baskets for disadvantaged youth, ages birth to 16.
But it’s a whole lot more than that.
Starting in advance (as is currently happening), volunteers can sign up to help assemble baskets. Donations are needed, and so are participants, from Wednesday, April 17th through Friday, April 19th.
The location? Bayshore Fellowship Hall, at Bay Shore Community Congregational Church.
Onsite volunteers will be loading baskets into vehicles as the various nonprofits arrive to pick them up for distribution. We’ll also be helping to create baskets for the various age categories.
Eight different three-hour volunteer shifts are available, and you’re requested to arrive five minutes before your shift starts. Here’s the link.
When you volunteer, please bring some supplies with you for the baskets.
Personal-hygiene supplies, such as body wash and shampoo, go in every basket. Consequently these always run short, very quickly.
School and art supplies are needed, as are small toys and items for teenage recipients. If you’d like to participate, now is a great time to keep these items in mind, in case you see something amazing–and nonperishable–in your normal travels.
Here’s a wish list: see “How and What to Pack in Your Baskets”, at the bottom of the page.
And while it’s early, you may want to start talking to friends and members of your church , club, youth or Scout organization or other community group.
A number of people. locally. like to get together to assemble five baskets, each valued at about $20-$25, which they can drop off at Bay Shore Church as Operation Easter Basket gets hopping.
The goal this year? 3,500 Easter baskets for disadvantaged youth.
That’s a bunny-leap forward from last year’s surpassed goal of 2,900 baskets.
The challenge is on! See you there?