Members of the Catholic Daughters of St. Joseph Church in Sea Isle City show some of the Easter baskets that were donated. (Photo courtesy of Sea Isle City)
The Catholic Daughters Court Our Lady of Mercy #1655, of St. Joseph Church in Sea Isle City, hosted their fifth annual Easter Basket Drive.
The goal of the drive is to ensure that people in need and local homebound residents receive plenty of cheer this Easter.
Fellow members of St. Joseph Church donated candy, toys, snacks and other items to fill more than 100 Easter baskets – each one adorned with cellophane, colorful ribbon and a note that read, “Some Bunny Loves You!”
Some of the overflowing baskets were delivered to Covenant House in Atlantic City, an organization that assists young people experiencing homelessness and trafficking.
Others went to Branches Outreach Center in Rio Grande, where people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and other hardships are offered a safe environment and useful resources.
The rest of the Easter baskets were delivered to homebound members of St. Joseph Church.
According to organizer Bette Keller, the Easter Basket Drive is a labor of love.
“Lent is a time of reflection, as well as spiritual and personal growth, and when you reflect on yourself you often think of others,” said Keller, who also organizers a monthly parish food drive with other dedicated parishioners.
“The people who receive the baskets may not know who we are, but we know who they are – and we want them to know that we care,” she added.
Keller noted that the Easter Basket Drive first started during the COVID outbreak, when many people were experiencing loneliness.
“It’s wonderful that something so positive could occur during such a difficult time – and we want to keep this going into the future,” she said.
To learn more about the Catholic Daughters Court Our Lady of Mercy #1655, go to https://www.stjosephsic.org/ or call the St. Joseph Church parish office at 609-263-8696.
