by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
The law books and case files aren’t nearly so prominent these days in Jeanne Helton’s office at Smith Hulsey & Busey.
The dominant feature is the profusion of baskets, plastic grass, colored plastic eggs, chocolate bunnies and toys.
Those are some of the ingredients to be packed in the 40 to 60 special Easter baskets the Christian Legal Society is putting together for children at the Ronald McDonald House.
“We haven’t had to pull teeth to get help here,” said Helton, president of CLS. “I think when you want to do something to help people who are less fortunate than yourself, either through financial or medical or other circumstance, it really does make you feel good.
“People want to do that.”
The CLS bought the baskets, grass and bunnies. Contributions have come in from the many people who have heard about the project.
“We have a committee of eight that’s heading it up, and we all work in different firms,” said Helton. “Everybody is sort of passing the word in their firms as well as at the organizations, like Rotary, that they’re with.
“We’re getting some nice toy contributions and candy. It’s made it real fun.”
This is the first year the CLS has taken on this particular project. It was recommended by member Scott Schildberg, who has done it two other years with his Rotary Club.
Everybody interested in helping pack baskets will be in Helton’s office on the 18th floor of the Wachovia building Thursday. The baskets will be distributed Friday.
“What we’re hoping to be able to do is get them to the parents,” said Helton. “A lot of these people are so stressed from their children’s illnesses.
“They’re all there with something serious. It’s all they can do to handle the medical tests and procedures on a day-to-day basis. They really don’t have time or the resources to think about something as minimal as an Easter basket for their kids.”
The young siblings of sick children will also receive special baskets, “so they won’t feel left out,” said Helton.
The Ronald McDonald House, adjacent to Baptist Medical Center and Nemours, has room for 20 families, “and they stay booked pretty much all the time,” said Helton. “The Ronald McDonald House has a lot of needs. They have seriously ill children.
“And they have a lot more needs than Easter baskets.”
Helton and the CLS still have a day or two to accept contributions before they put the baskets together on Thursday.
“We will gladly accept anything that anyone would like to donate,” she said. “What we particularly need are the kinds of toys kids can play with who have limited mobility. Inexpensive things, like hand-held basketball games or coloring books, little purses, Ninja Turtles, Matchbox cars — things children can play with if they’re in a hospital bed or confined to a chair.”
Those who would like to make a donation should call Helton at 359-7761. She will arrange to have the items picked up.
Helton suggested she and the other CLS members have probably gotten just as much out of the project as the children will. Perhaps more.
“This has been a real gratifying project for us,” she said. “The Ronald McDonald House is a wonderful organization. But I’m fortunate that I haven’t had a family member need them.
“I think it would be really difficult to be ill and away from your family support system in a different city, getting medical care, even when the care is critically needed.
“I think anything you can do to bring a little levity to their day helps them. And it doesn’t take a lot to bring levity to them.”