Much like efforts in the community to meet needs at the Christmas holidays, a drive is on – though smaller in scope – to help provide Easter baskets to local children.

“We put together baskets every year, the FFA is collecting materials to put them together and we coordinate it with Dent Elementary,” said Escalon High School ag teacher and FFA advisor Jennifer Terpstra.

The FFA members are actively seeking items, from the baskets themselves to the decorative grass that goes in them, along with small toys and stationery items.

“Dent gives us a number of kids,” Terpstra said of working to fill the baskets in time for this year’s March 31 Easter observance.

The items are being accepted through Wednesday, March 27 at the school, with the FFA members then having a couple of days to get them put together and delivered before the school goes on Spring Break following the holiday.

“We like to do a traditional Easter basket, we put in plastic eggs with candy, in the past we’ve also done pencils, erasers, small cars, stuffed animals, sidewalk chalk,” Terpstra explained. “People can even drop off the pre-made baskets.”

Donations can be delivered to the high school office for the FFA or taken directly to the ag department on campus.

“We’ve been able to get close to 20 baskets in the past and we would like to do that again,” said Terpstra. “It’s kind of a nice thing to do.”