Girls League is making Easter a little bit brighter for children in need by donating funds and baskets to the Easters for Eli program.
The Easter for Eli program started in 2015 by Martin Garret, Eli’s dad. Eli Garret was a 3-year-old boy who lost a long battle with Non-Hodgkin’s T-Cell Lymphoma in 2009. In memory of Eli, his family started collecting Easter baskets to be delivered to children who are hospitalized over the Easter holiday.
In 2024, Easter for Eli delivered 5,000 baskets and $4,800 worth of gift cards to sick children at 16 different hospitals. These hospitals spanned from Pennsylvania to Delaware.
“The organization provides comfort and joy to hospitalized children during the Easter holiday season,” adviser Megan Yingling said. “It was founded in memory of a young boy named Eli who lost his battle to cancer.”
Girls League has been a club for many years.
“Girls League is a club for girl high school students where they learn things like leadership skills, friendship and team efforts,” senior member Giada Latteri said.
“Girls League is a club that aims to provide leadership and community involvement among female students,” senior president Megan Giles said.
Caring along the tradition, Girls League is continuing to raise money and donate to the Easter for Eli program.
“We [Girls League] are sponsoring a district wide dress down day,” Yingling said. “The girls will also be set up in the cafeteria during lunches from Mar. 17 to Mar. 20. They will be taking donations in return for a bracelet or piece of candy.”
Yingling had a history with donating to the program even before taking over Girls League.
“My husband worked with Eli’s dad, Martin Garrett,” Yingling said. “My husband owns his own business and we have donated baskets to the organization for years. When I took over as the Girls League adviser, I thought it would be a great idea for the girls to help too.”
Girls League has been able to put together 25-30 Easter baskets each year. The club hopes to double the amount of baskets donated this year.
“We’re hoping to raise as much money as we can,” Latterri said. “Also, we hope that everyone donates enough toys and stuff that we can fill as many baskets as we can.”
