Candy drive for handicapped paying kindness forward From Santa’s workshop to the bunny trail, a Hastings woman is once again collecting candy to distribute to the area’s physically and mentally handicapped residents for Easter. Rashell Hillis, a state certified chore provider who cares for four handicapped people in Hastings, will package all the candy-filled eggs, treats and Easter grass she collects in cellophane bags during a public packing event 2 p.m. Saturday at the Eagles Club, 107 N.Denver Ave. The bags then will be distributed by volunteers who gather at the Eagles Club at 2 p.m. April 19. About 350 bags of candy will be distributed through the drive, depending on how much candy is collected. Hillis said she has enough bags to pack twice that many if donations allow. Hillis began collecting goodies for the handicapped last winter to distribute in stockings for Christmas. After doling out 120 stockings at Christmas, she decided — at the encouragement of a friend — to extend the giving season to include Easter this year. Her motivation for distributing the packages comes from her desire to pay it forward in gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of support she and her family have received from community members across the state following the premature birth of her 2-year-old grandson, Rilee. Rilee, the son of Matt and Samantha Johnson, is being cared for at Ambassador Home in Omaha as a result of being born with multiple disabilities. Wheelchair-bound and unable to live with the family at this point, he breathes through a tracheotomy tube. Yet in spite of his health issues, the youngster is well cared for and happy. And for that, Hillis is grateful. “When it comes to holidays and birthdays, that little boy’s room is full of things that have been given to him,” she said. “And it’s all out of love. “We can’t be in Omaha every single day to be there for him, but there are people there that are so giving. This is my days way of paying back.” Donations already received by Hillis from the community ensure that her goal of 350 bags will be met. In the event she runs out of recipients in Hastings, she intends to distribute the remaining bags to handicapped individuals in Grand Island. “Everyone deserves a smile,” she said. “I’ve had a ton of good people donate. The more that comes in, the more bags go out.” To request a bag for a handicapped person or to donation, call Hillis at 402-705-6745. This is a copy of the article out of todays paper the fill is sunday not Saturday thank you
Posted on: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:37:12 +0000