by Noella Noelophile®
Happy Leap Day–and Happy Easter!
No–I didn’t get the calendar mixed up. Easter, 2020, is now 42 days away–and counting. (Sunday, April 12th!)
And if you’re in the Long Beach area, now is a great time to start thinking about Operation Easter Basket.
Annually, in Long Beach, nonprofit Community Action Team assembles literally hundreds of baskets for donation to underprivileged youth.
Just prior to Easter, volunteers gather at Bayshore Community Church, in Long Beach, both to put the baskets together, assembly line-style, and to help local nonprofits load them into their vehicles for distribution to their young “clients”, ranging in age from newborn to age 16, during Easter weekend.
In 2019, as noted in my earlier post, Operation Easter Basket donated more than 3,800 baskets to local organizations.
Now, they’re gearing up for their 16th annual operation.
Currently, Operation Easter Basket, helmed by Long Beach community activist /”Chief Inspiration Officer” Justin Rudd, has a goal of providing 3,600 Easter baskets.
In each will be: school supplies, art supplies, a toy or puzzle, personal-hygiene items, and, of course, some candy. Each basket’s value averages $25.
Local nonprofits are invited to request baskets for the youth they serve, according to Justin’s webpage.
And you’re invited to get involved–in several different ways.
Can you make and drop off some baskets, Wednesday, April 8th through Friday, April 10th at Bayshore Community Church?
Justin and company would like to ask you to get four friends together and create a basket each, then drop off the five baskets at the church on those dates. At the bottom of this webpage, you’ll find directions on what to put in the baskets.
Or–you could volunteer.
Three-hour volunteer shifts are available from Wednesday, April 8th at 11 am through Friday, the 10th at noon. Participation is free (but please plan to bring some supplies for the baskets! You’ll see what’s needed most on the “2020 wish list”.). Meanwhile, here’s the link to register.
In addition, Operation Easter Basket needs host committee members, who will post about the event on their social media. Host committee members are asked to donate at least 20 baskets or $500 worth of supplies.
And–you know how serving on a committee usually means meetings beforehand? There AREN’T any of those.
Instead, host committee members are asked to give at least three on-site volunteer hours at Bayshore Church, April 8th through 11th, to help assemble the baskets. An RSVP is requested if you can serve: please reply to Justin@JustinRudd.com.
And last but never least, if your schedule is crammed but you’d still like to help, donations are welcome. Here’s the link to donate to Community Action Team.
See you at Operation Easter Basket 2020, perhaps–and be safe and well this Spring, 2020.