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Shepherd residents make Easter baskets for Sojourner House
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Irene Dent made sure that everything in her Easter basket was placed perfectly.
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Viola Mackey looked happy with the progress in the Easter baskets she was arranging. Mackey's care facility, Shepherd of the Valley Poland, is sending the baskets to the children of the Sojourner House.
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Louis Davidson’s favorite part of her basket was the adorable purple Easter bunny.
By SARAH FOOR
Most kids wake up Easter morning and expect a basket of candy and goodies waiting for them. However, for the kids of the Sojourner House, a domestic violence shelter in Youngstown, even that small holiday gift might not be possible.
To make sure the children of Sojourner experienced that bit of holiday joy, residents of Poland Shepherd of the Valley gathered on April 19 to assemble Easter baskets for the kids.
Tessa Martin, an activities assistant at the facility, helped organize the goods that residents then situated in plastic baskets.
“Our residents really do love to give back,” Martin shared at the April 19 event. “Nearly all of the goods going into the baskets today have been donated by residents — bags and bags of Easter grass, candies and toys were donated to the project.”
The donations of the residents were supplemented by plush Easter bunnies and plastic baskets that were purchased. A small group of residents placed the goodies in the baskets. The containers strained to hold the Easter bunnies, puzzles, chalk, gum, ring pops, and a cornucopia of chocolate candies.
“The kids are going to absolutely love these baskets; there are so many great gifts here,” resident Irene Johnson shared as she eyed her collection of Easter goods.
“Oh, to be a kid again,” resident Norma Kovanes said. “They’re so simple, but these little gifts will make their day.”
The facility created 15 baskets for the children at Sojourner House, which were picked up and brought to the shelter for Easter morning.
“Community is really important here,” Martin shared of the facility. “Our residents were happy to help a small project that managed to bring a great amount of joy to area kids.”