The Easter Basket Campaign has been bringing smiles to Western Canada's children who are in stressful situations for quite some time. But in 2015, Melinda Ives, team leader with Discovery Toys started the campaign in Manitoba.

Ives, along with five other consultants run the campaign throughout the province.

This is a sponsorship program where everyone in the community, from friends, family, and businesses can get involved in sponsoring an Easter basket for kids in need.

Donations can be monetary or items given to fill the baskets from crayons, colouring books to art supplies for teenagers. Also, chocolates and goodies round out the baskets.

A full basket is a $30.00 donation.

Ives explains that the organization they work with is the Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters, which comprises of 10 shelters including Winnipeg, Steinbach, Selkirk, Portage la Prairie, Brandon, Dauphin, The Pas, and Thompson.

"A couple of years ago we took on Ronald McDonald House as well to provide children in need with an Easter basket at a very stressful time in their life," Ives said, "just trying to bring some joy to Easter when families are experiencing some very stressful times." 

Ives and her team deliver the baskets the week leading up to Easter to the various shelters and are not hands-on with handing them out. This way it allows the parents to be involved in giving their children those gifts versus someone else giving it to their child.

"We are so thankful. We could not do this without the support of family and friends and local businesses. We are also so thankful to the West Kildonan Collegiate School that provides us space, and they get their high school students also involved in assembling all of these Easter baskets," Ives said.

The campaign is just wrapping up for the 2019 Easter season and all together,200 baskets were assembled and are now on their way to bring smiles to children's' faces.

To get in touch with Melinda for more information you can email her at discoverytoys.melinda@gmail.com or call her at 1-204-205-0018.