Thanks to the kindness and efforts of so many across the Diocese, more than 300 families received an Easter basket this year as part of the Office of Faith Event’s (OFE) annual Make a Memory Easter Basket project.
More than 200 baskets were donated to St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich and another 100 to the Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown. All of the baskets were donated by families, individuals, and parishes throughout the Diocese.
Each basket, designated for a specific age and gender, included a variety of items including age-appropriate Easter candy, toys, coloring books, and cards.
“People were very thoughtful about what they put into each basket,” said Andrea Hoisl, OFE director. Some of the baskets included cards wishing recipients a Happy Easter and to let them know that someone was thinking about them.
“This project is a wonderful way for families to participate in a service project that benefits the less fortunate children in our communities,” Hoisl said. “It is also a way for people who don’t have young children in their life to join in and help spread Easter joy to others.”
This is the third year of the OFE initiative and one to which many of the donors look forward, said Hoisl. “We had several people call the office before the beginning of Lent to verify it was happening again.”
This is a sampling of some of the over 300 baskets donated to St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich and the Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown as part of the Office of Faith Events annual Make a Memory Easter Basket project.