Day 207: The Easter Bunny is an Every Day Hero

Happy Easter! It’s finally here. The eggs are hidden, the snacks were left out for the Easter Bunny and all hell is about to break loose when my 3 year old wakes up this morning. We will make bunny ears, blow eggs and paint them all finished off with a tradition Easter egg hunt. My son is blessed as was I and my husband growing up. We have fond memories of Easter that have lasted a life time. Whether you are religious or not Easter bring families together, friends together even communities to share in the festivities.

Some families are not as blessed as we have been. Some families spend Easter on the street, in shelters and in poverty without the money to get the chocolate Easter egg hunts that have stayed in my memory since childhood. This next post was sent from my sister in Los Angeles, California. It is the story of one couple and a community that put on their bunny ears to volunteered their time and donate their money to leave happy memories for children that might otherwise have nightmares at Easter time. As quoted by Karen Somers below “isn’t this what Easter is all about?”

Day 207 : Give 207 Guest post by Karen Somers

Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. For Los Angeles resident Terry Sears, this moveable feast is almost a daily consideration as she spends all year shopping for, creating and then distributing Easter Baskets for kids in need over this holiday.

Every year Terry, her husband David and her “Easter Basket Brigade” assemble car-loads of gift baskets for the children of Haven Hills, a shelter for victims of domestic violence and other surrounding church organizations.

70 Easter Baskets for Haven Hills

This year Terry created over seventy baskets with multiple buying trips over the last twelve months, picking up each treasured item one piece at a time. It’s a balancing act of ingenuity, enthusiasm and organization. She takes advantage of the post Easter sales and donations from store-owners and friends, but on the whole, Terry and David Sears pick up most of the tab themselves. Her efforts culminate in an intensive week of basket packing just before Easter with the Basket Brigade in her dining room.

The “Easter Basket Brigade” is an informal team of family, friends and neighbours who volunteer their time to build baskets tailored to boys or girls, from babies to teens. The results have been a long time hit for the residents of Haven Hills. They look forward to the fun and useful baskets every year as they are filled with everything from Easter candy, clothing items and toys to books and gift certificates.

Terry is one special member of an army of unsung everyday heroes across the U.S. who quietly fill in the gaps for those less fortunate. They contribute their time, money and muscle in thousands of ways without any fanfare or media coverage. Terry and her Easter Basket Brigade have taken a moveable feast and locked it into a yearly expression of loving commitment to the greater good – isn’t this what Easter is all about?

If you would like to contribute to Terry’s efforts she can be reached via email at: [email protected] or make a direct donation to Haven Hills with one click.

What will you do today to give back in honour of Easter?