This Easter Season, Blessings Abound

April 2009
St. John's Episcopal Church St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chula Vista opted to create a unique Easter ‘basket’ to benefit Episcopal Community Services. A section of a garden trellis was fashioned to create a giant basket, which parishioners were asked to fill with canned and boxed goods to help stock the shelves of Emergency Assistance program. Pasta, rice, soups and cereals overflowed from the basket. Treat-filled Easter eggs dotted the assortment, giving the collection a festive look. Hundreds of items filled the narthex of the church, serving as a meaningful symbol of the partnership between St. John’s and ECS.

St. James by-the-Sea Continuing a twenty-year tradition, the Julian’s Advisory Committee gathered at St. Paul’s Cathedral to assemble baskets for children residing at each of the three Julian’s Program sites. An efficient and eager assembly line of volunteers lovingly created the baskets, filling each with candy, small toys, school supplies and other goodies donated by the committee. Each basket was carefully labeled with a child’s name and sent off with a personalized ‘Happy Easter’ message.

At St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla, parishioners donated baskets filled with food, candy, small toys and gift cards to deliver to children and families served by the Para Las Familias program. Over 70 baskets were collected, each beautifully adorned with bows and festive trinkets. When a foster family of three sisters was greeted for their appointment at the Para Las Familias program office, they were each presented with a donated basket to enjoy. “Mamá, look! A bunny toy!” one sister exclaimed as she peeked into her basket.