‘Easter blessing': Non-profit gives nearly 300 baskets
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Easter is a holiday celebrated by billions all over the world, including staff and guests at the St. Francis House in Sioux Falls.
Sunday, they gave the neighborhood a nice Easter surprise.
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Thanks to a partnership with CitiBank, the St. Francis House gives out Easter baskets to their own guests as well as people at Bishop Dudley, Union Gospel Mission and The Banquet.
'We line up the rest of the remaining baskets out front of the St. Francis house, and all of the neighborhood kids and the children who go to Our Lady of Guadalupe come over and experience the opportunity to pick out an Easter basket,' St. Francis House CEO Julie Becker said.
'It's great that they're doing things like this for our congregation since we're so close to each other,' Our Lady of Guadalupe congregation member Evelyn Duarte said.
In total, the St. Francis House gave out almost 300 baskets this year. They were filled with sweet treats, stuffed animals and some toys. It helped make Easter a little brighter.
'I like to see how big of a difference it makes in the community,' Duarte said.
'It gives them hope. This gives them faith,' St. Francis House guest Arturo Celada said. 'It's good to bring the kids and see the kids come in and get the baskets from their loved ones.'
'It is a true Easter blessing because we want the St. Francis House to be seen as a safe home, not only for our guests to be able to live and rebuild their lives, but also for the neighborhood that they know that this is a place that people are welcome,' Becker said.
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The baskets help spread a message of what Easter is all about.
'Easter is not only about our religious beliefs, but it's also about being kind, helping others and bringing joy to others,' Becker said.
The St. Francis House says there were somewhere between 40 and 60 baskets lined up outside Sunday. All of them were gone by about 10:30 Sunday morning.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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