Mrs. Marylou Posey has been spreading Easter joy across the city since 1985. She was moved to tears by the song, We Are the World, and thought, while many people did things for children during Christmas, there was an opportunity to make them smile at Easter. So, 36 years ago she began her charitable journey by making Easter baskets and distributing them through Franklin County Children's Services.
Mrs. Posey has made thousands of baskets since, partnering with various organizations along the way as she went back to teaching. Last year, when the pandemic shut down schools and charities at Easter, she was left with baskets and no way to distribute them. Her husband, Dick, knew about Starfish because he's a member of the charitable group 100 Men Who Give a Damn, which provided us the seed money to start Books & Badges. He advised her to contact us under the assumption that the police weren't closed. He was right!
We were thrilled when she wanted to work with us again this year, giving us 150 baskets for Columbus Division of Police officers to distribute across the city. Mrs. Posey also gave baskets to our friends at Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, specifically Linden Recreation Center, where she used to play as a child. Turns out she taught Starfish Board Member Mario Dovell when he was in school. He remembered her and was so happy to reconnect with her. How adorable!
Enjoy a few photos of Mrs. Posey's heartfelt gifts and the smiles they created. Happy Easter, everyone!
