Update: Deadline Nears for Operation Easter Basket

Updates with baskets donated so far:

The deadline for the seventh annual Operation Easter Basket is Friday night as it seeks to collect up to to 1,600 donated Easter baskets for distribution to Long Beach children in need.

Welcome are Easter baskets containing items such as:

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

Volunteers are also welcome.

The location for the drop-off and the preferred drop-off times are:

Bay Shore Church, Belmont Shore
Today: 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

As of 7 p.m. Thursday, 921 Easter baskets had been dropped off, and a couple hundred delivered, making room for several hundred more, according to organizer Justin Rudd. He and volunteers will photograph you with your basket in what will probably be a giant online thank you gallery. The greatest number of baskets arrive in the last hours of the last day, he added.

2010 basket recipients included:

• Hill Middle School's ICES program, 15 baskets 
• Carmelitos Housing Development, 223
• Interval House, 20 
• adult students who attend Saturday English classes at Home Depot, 93 baskets
• Northpointe Housing Project, Long Beach BLAST, 44 
• Bikes 90800, 200
• South Coast Interfaith Shelter, 39 
• Long Beach Dept. of Health's Public Health Nurses, 121
• Stramski Center, Miller Children's Hospital, 20
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, 212
• New Life Beginnings, 5
• Good Success Christian Fellowship Church, 121
• COA, 100 
• Trinity Church, 45
• Woman to Woman, 52
• Long Beach Rescue Mission, 257
• Misc. kids, 5 
• Outflow, 24
• His Nesting Place, 40

For more information: www.OperationEaster.com