Easter Basket Service Project

This year’s Easter Basket Service Project was a great success! 1853 Easter Baskets were made by troops and distributed to 14 local organizations that represent youth and adults who otherwise would not have been able to share in the joy of Easter! Many troops, representing several Service Units made these basket and I would like to thank them:

• Troop 501 O’Fallon

• Troop 936 Highland

• Troop 1050 Freeburg

• Troops 947,1441, and 551 Troy

• Troops 1096 and 997 Collinsville

• Troops 37, 740, 645, 254, and 580 Belleville

• The entire Scott AFB service unit which made a record 1489 baskets (in 3 hours)!!!

I also would like to thank Gwen Boggan for helping me with the list of organizations and for moral support to take on this endeavor and help me make it a success!!!

A special thanks to Kohl’s for donating over 800 stuffed animals for us to put in the baskets and to Terri Clear for making this happen!!!

Thanks to Capt. Georgia and the Salvation Army for the space for basket collection and distribution!!! I would also like to thank my friends at the thrift shop who look for toys, books, animals and anything they think would be great for the baskets!!!

Finally, thank you to my wonderful husband Jeff who packages all the stuff for storage, helps me wash all the stuffed animals and is a great partner in life!!! Thanks also to Marsha Palmer, Jamie Messer, Sarah Messer, Karen Zawasky, Chastity Stemm-Randle, Nikki Wise, Jason Wise, Jesse Wise, Jay "Jayman" Wise, Michael Ewing, Misty Ewing(and her friend Sharon), Kim Griffin, Julie Lloyd, John Messer, Alex Messer, Tim Clear, Terri Clear, Anthony Randle, Tiffany and Jerald Thomson and to all Scott GS leaders, my Junior Troop 313—you are all special and finally my Brownie Troop 613—you all did a great job!!!

Until next year—and yes I will be doing this next year!!! Our goal for next year is 2000 baskets!!!