Seventy children whose parents are incarcerated at the Oakland County Jail will receive fun Easter baskets, thanks to students in Oxford Elementary School’s new Service Club.
Club coordinator and OES teacher Mary Kraniak got the idea to collect the baskets from her 92-year-old mother.
Oxford resident Prudi Hillert, has been involved with the OCJ’s ministry for 29 years, collecting 2,500 Christmas baskets for the families of those incarcerated.
Hillert had been speaking to the jail chaplain, Peggy Dezaney, who mentioned the need for Easter baskets. It was the perfect assignment for the brand new club. ‘It’s just delightful,? Hillert said of the many baskets collected.
The 70 baskets will be dropped off to Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills to be stuffed with goodies before being delivered to the children. The club, comprised of 27 fifth-graders and growing, has also made Easter cards for a nursing home and will even start donating money to an organization to help save a rainforest.
Hillert visited the club at its regular 4-4:45 p.m. meeting Monday afternoon to express her thanks for all the baskets.
‘What is good about this group is you’re becoming aware of other children besides yourself,? she said. ‘You will feel real good for doing these deeds for these little kids who don’t get anything. It makes them feel good to know that somebody else cares about them.?
Rest assured, this won’t be the last project the club takes on. ‘What we’re doing is only the tip of the iceberg,? Kraniak said. ‘School is a good place to do things like this because kids get excited about doing things for other people. That’s why I like working here.?