Kettering College Easter Basket Ministry Makes a Difference Across the Community

More than 300 Easter baskets were assembled and donated to non-profits around Dayton, Ohio to be given to children and parents in need.

Story by Jessica Beans, Kettering College

Kettering College students and employees, the Kettering church in Kettering Ohio, and the Kettering Adventist HealthCare Network join together each year to minister to hundreds of individuals around Dayton, Ohio through what has become known as the Easter basket ministry.

This year more than 50 volunteers assembled 285 Easter baskets for kids and 81 packets of hygiene supplies for women. These baskets were assembled the week before Easter and all of the items in the baskets were donated by students and faculty at Kettering College, members of the community, and Kettering Health Network employees. These baskets are a tangible gift of love during one of the most sacred Christian holidays.

“This activity gives people hope” says Richa Stevens, Kettering Health Network spiritual services and missions and the main organizer of this event from its beginning. She explains how the project started with only making 14 Easter baskets and has grown throughout the years to become a major event that heavily impacts the community now.

This ministry provides Easter baskets to individuals through several different human services organizations in this community such as Kettering Behavioral Medical Center, Artemis House, Erma's House, Young Women’s Christian Association – Women’s shelter, House of Bread, St Vincent’s, and Daybreak Shelter.

“We are a faith-based school, and spiritual care is not just something you cover in one class, it has to be a part of who we are, which is I encourage my students to join this event,” says Joan Ulloth, Kettering College nursing professor and an organizer of this Easter event. “We want the recipients of these baskets to know they are a part of a community that cares.”