Remember those sunny Easter Sunday mornings when you were younger, and rushing to the kitchen or living room and finding a basket from the Easter bunny? Remember the joy that came from recieving such a generous gift from an imaginary floppy-eared friend? The rest of the day would
revolve around those bits of candy and small toys, along with those easy Easter egg scavenger hunts. Unfortunately, there are some children and teens who will not be blessed with a basket from the Easter Bunny. Here is where Lewis students can help.
Lewis University Ministry has teamed up with Morning Star Mission, located in East Joliet, to
collect and donate Easter gift baskets for children and teens from low-income families and shelters. Students are encouraged to adopt as many boys and girls throughout the month of February, and create baskets with fake green grass, one toy or book and some candy.
Martha Villegas-Miranda, Coordinator of Volunteer Outreach and Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Services, will be working directly with Morning Star and asks that each basket be labeled with the gender of the child and age. This will assist Morning Star in separating and sorting each basket on the day of distribution.
“I know there are a lot of campaigns to support different causes around campus, like relief for Haiti,” said Villegas-Miranda. “They are all important. I know certain projects speak to people differently, and I have decided to offer and share this opportunity.”
Students are welcomed to creative with the baskets, and are not limited to the required toy and candy. Villegas-Miranda mentions that it does not have to be expensive, either. She suggests going to Walgreens or Dollar General to buy small items to place in the baskets. “Just so the kids can get something is the idea,” she said.
Baskets are due by Tuesday, March 9, and will be collected in Villegas-Miranda’s office in the Ministry Center, S.A. 103. Students may also help Villegas-Miranda deliver the baskets to Morning Star March 12, where they will also help serve soup in the kitchens. There is limited space reserved, in which volunteers would need to contact Villegas-Miranda if interested.
There is also a volunteering opportunity for distribution of the baskets to the children and teens on Tuesday, March 30. If students are interested in attending this volunteer session, they would need to contact Jackie Kinney, volunteer coordinator of Morning Star,
directly at 815-722-5780 ext. 226 or via e-mail: volunteercoordinator@morningstarmission.org.
There has already been interest received from about 20 people who will donate a gift basket. Morning Star Mission’s goal is to receive 600 baskets. However, Villegas-Miranda would like to have at least 50 for a more realistic number.
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