Easter will be a bit brighter for area children this year, thanks to the annual efforts of Spreading Smiles, a local nonprofit.
About 600 Easter baskets were filled and packaged Saturday at Ristorante Renato in downtown Fredericksburg by volunteers including groups from Spotsylvania High School’s student council, Turner Construction and Amazon. Volunteers will pack an additional 260 baskets this weekend to be delivered across the region.
Elisa Bonilla, executive director of Spreading Smiles, said that the annual project of filling and delivering the baskets began during the pandemic, when celebrating and socializing was more difficult — especially for children.
“Our whole thing is, we want kids to not lose out on the magic of being a kid,” Bonilla said.
The baskets will be distributed through school divisions in the region, Loisann’s Hope House, Mary’s Shelter, Empowerhouse, Brisben Center, Catholic Charities, and even a shelter in Culpeper.
“We don’t do anything small,” she said.
For volunteers, it’s a chance to do something special for the community. Amelia Nunez, a SHS senior, was one of 17 Spotsylvania teens who came to the restaurant to help the effort. Spotsylvania High School picks an organization for its annual fundraiser, with each grade competing against the others to raise money. Spreading Smiles was recommended to the student council group to be this year’s recipient.
“We came here today so that we could really get to know and be a part of what we’re trying to raise money for,” Nunez said.
Spreading Smiles is best known for packing weekend meals for area children, offering coats, backpacks and shoes for families who need them, and packaging and delivering Thanksgiving meals for families among many other ongoing initiatives.
“Our primary objective is to help children with food insecurity,” volunteer Mike Berry said. “What we want for every child — we don’t think any child should be judged in the situation that they’re currently in. It’s not their fault. And we want them to feel as normal as possible.”
“No matter what your circumstances are, we want to make sure you are taken care of,” Bonilla said.
