Easter Basket Drive for LB Children Needs Your Help

Hundreds of people from Long Beach and surrounding communities are bringing treat-stuffed Easter baskets, small toys, plastic grass or money to help deliver cheer to more than 1,000 local children.

Baskets, toiletries, games and other donations - including labor to assemble them - need to arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Friday to Bay Shore Church at 5100 E. The Toledo, in Long Beach. As in years past, Rogers Middle School students will assist, as will Long Beach firefighters, said organizer Justin Rudd of Belmont Shore. Rudd runs Community Action Team, which stages charitable and fun events throughout the year.

 "Operation Easter Basket seeks to bring joy and hope to children in desperate situations right here in Long Beach through gift-filled Easter Baskets," Rudd wrote, listing the following needed items:

- small toys 
- school supplies 
- art supplies 
- hygiene products (toothbrushes, shampoo) 
- essential clothing items (socks, underwear) 
- and some Easter candy. 

 2012 Photos

 Rudd said people can donate cash or contents and volunteers will assemble the baskets. Here are some guidelines offered: 

How and What to Pack in Your Baskets  4 simple steps

1. First, decide whether your gift will be for a boy or girl and choose an age category: (0-2), (2-4), (5-7), (8-10), (11-13) or (14-16). Attach a note to the handle of your Easter basket that says "BOY" or "GIRL" and the age category (i.e. BOY, age 5-7).

2. Find a basket that you can use to create your Easter Basket. Take a look at the items listed below to judge the size basket you think you'll need. 

3. Then, fill your basket with a variety of gifts: 

TOYS: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, plastic kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, small Etch A Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky, etc. : stacking blocks, pull toys, bathtub toys, small stuffed toys. Ages 2-4: dolls, wooden puzzles, educational toys, busy blocks, teddy bears, puppets, books. Ages 5-7: action figures, legos, bubble bath, balls, Barbies, stickers, play dough, paint sets. Ages 8-12: board games, watches, Frisbees, soccer balls, footballs, purses. Ages 13-16: back packs, diaries, perfume, make-up, watches, jewelry, books.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, coloring books, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, etc. 

HYGIENE ITEMS: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, soap, comb, bubble bath, washcloth, etc.

ESSENTIAL CLOTHING: socks, T-shirts, slippers, underwear, ball caps, etc. 

MORE IDEAS: manufacturer's-packaged candy (i.e. no loose jelly beans or candies), age-appropriate hard candy (i.e. not too small for a young child to choke on), lollipops, mints, gum, sunglasses, flashlights with extra batteries, toy jewelry sets, hair clips, watches, small picture books, gift certificates, books, etc.

4. Wrap your basket in a cellophane bag. And, be sure to mark an appropriate age range & gender for your basket (as listed in step 1 above) on an attached tag.

Rudd said that those not able to assemble baskets themselves can help with financial aid "that would help us to make possible this Easter effort of love."

More details can be found at www.JustinRudd.com/easter.html.