Easter basket drive already in full swing
A local school is making sure more kids have Easter baskets this year – 500 they hope.
Good Shepherd School’s Annual Easter Basket Drive is already off to a good start.
“The official kick-off was last week but we are already at over 102 baskets,” said mom and volunteer Kellie McIntosh. “We’re donating them to ACT – The Abused Counseling Treatment Center for women and children of Lee County – and the Children’s Network of Lee County.”
The school is located at the corner of Hancock Bridge Parkway and Orange Grove Boulevard, near the border between North Fort Myers and Cape Coral. McIntosh, a Cape Coral mom, is helping generate great enthusiasm throughout the school, and she has high hopes for donations.
“We’re going to start out in Lee County with our goal of 500, but wouldn’t it be awesome to get 2,000 baskets, for all of the local counties?” she said.
The school is looking for pre-assembled baskets, but will also accept donations ofwrapped candy,
“We can’t have separate jelly beans, or candy like that, for safety reasons,” she said.
Baskets and candy alone are fine for donations.
“I’ll also be going to a dollar store to get stuffed animals and anything else for the baskets we need,” she said.
McIntosh is a big fan of the school. She has two children enrolled there now – 10-year-old Alexys, a 4th grader, and 6-year-old Abigail, who is in kindergarten.
“They offer so many scholarships and discount programs,” she said. “It is a way for me to be able to get affordable private school education.”
She has a family history at Good Shepherd School.
“Both my brother and I have been to school right here. My mom – Donna Jekel – is a teacher and the principal. She’s taught here for over 20 years now.”
The family is also members of the church.
“I got married here and I can’t remember not being around here,” she said.
There is an incentive within the school for the class that gets the most baskets.
“The top class will get an ice cream party,” she said.
Every day in car line, the school has the Easter Bunny, or his stand-in, volunteer student Neil Martin, promoting the event. Martin has been key to the drive. He has attended the school since age 4, and said he enjoys helping out with the drive.
“We have signs that show which class is in the lead,” McIntosh continued. She recruited her husband, Daniel, to do the signs.
“He works at Cleanest Carpet & Restoration, one of our sponsors, and did signs for me,” she said.
Basket donations will be accepted through April 4 at a variety of locations.
“If someone can’t drop them off, I’ll pick them up,” said McIntosh.
The drop off locations include:
n Cleanest Carpet & Restoration
424 S.E. 47th Terrace
Cape Coral, FL 33904
541-8991
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
n Pro Files Nail Salon
1631 Del Prado Blvd., Suite 412
Cape Coral, FL 33990
573-6245
Hours: Monday, noon-8 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
1830 Pine Island Rd. Suite 165
574-6245
Hours: Monday, noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
n Espresso to Go
1518 Hancock Bridge Pkwy.
458-5221
n Dance Dimensions
922 N.E. 8th Street
Cape Coral, FL 33909
573-7837
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
n Sandbill Realty Group
428 Del Prado Blvd. N., #107
540-1499
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
n Lawnmower Headquarters
1539 Del Prado Blvd., S.
574-8929
n Mi Rinconcito Columbiano
2003 Del Prado Blvd. S.
458-4902
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 4-10 p.m.
For information, call the school at 995-7711.