A shiny avalanche of cellophane-wrapped Easter baskets recently descended upon Trenton-based Mount Carmel Guild, all thanks to the generosity of the Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley.

Some 140 baskets, filled to the brim with candies, stuffed animals and toys, had been lovingly crafted through the efforts of the community’s three member parishes - St. Alphonsus, Hopewell; St. George, Titusville, and St. James, Pennington.

The faith community had been long-time benefactors to the Guild’s clients with their Thanksgiving food drive, Christmas giving tree and other projects, but “when I was asked to chair the social concerns for St. Alphonsus,” recalled Sharon Skibbee, “I thought it would be nice to have something for the springtime.”

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Now in its 10th year, the project continues to grow in number and scope despite the pandemic. The 10th annual collection of Easter treats yielded a bounty of mostly hand-crafted gifts of baskets or beach buckets brimming with games, candy, toys, even faith-based surprises, the chairwoman said.

“My husband and I put together five baskets at home and included religious coloring books for the kids,” said Skibbee. Pictures on the Mount Carmel Guild Facebook page show the March 24 delivery of scores of baskets intended for the Guild’s littlest clients. Skibbee said happily, “I couldn’t believe how beautiful it all turned out.”

Mount Carmel Guild executive director Mary Inkrot agreed and expressed gratitude for the churches’ colorful and tasty donation.

“They have been generous for years,” Inkrot said of the donors. “The baskets go to our clients we know so well. We know these families, they come in waves.”