Bonni Beaupied and Lindsea Caspary, both ten years old, are finishing the assembly of nearly 100 Easter baskets containing goodies such as a stuffed animal, book, candy and toys. They will distribute the baskets April 15 to kids and teens at the Vista Colina Emergency Family Shelter in Phoenix. This marks the third year the girls have met this charitable challenge.

Billie Paulson, the director of family services for Central Arizona Shelter Services, said she can't remember a time when youngsters of this age have returned year after year for a service project. "She's to be commended," Paulson said of Bonni, the brainchild of the project. "We're absolutely thrilled that the community comes forward to do something like this."

Shelter policy restricts on‑site volunteers to adults 18 and over, but Bonni and Lindsea are able to visit because they do the bulk of the work off‑site. They spend two to three months collecting stuffed animals, toys and games before spending the last three weeks assembling the baskets.

The completed projects are stored in an outside clubhouse at Bonni's home. "Sometimes we just have them all over the house," Bonni said. According to her mother, Denise, the girls logged 100 hours on the project last year.

The family makes a personal investment up to $100 to ensure the girls have all the items they want for the baskets. Bonni and Lindsea distribute the gifts the day before Easter.

Accounts differ on how the girls began their annual Easter service project. Denise said Bonni was inspired by her older sister, who collected items to sell for a college fundraiser. "My little one wanted to create baskets and toys for homeless children," she said.

Bonni remembers getting the idea from the PBS program "Zoom," which shows kids volunteering in their community. She saw a boy dressed in an Easter bunny costume handing out candy and she hopped, er, ran with the idea from there. Instead of costumes, the girls wear bunny ears or an antenna headband with chickens when they distribute the baskets.

But they fill them with more than candy. Most of the items are unsold or unwanted toys Bonni collects from garage sales and classmates at Desert Mountain School. "I sometimes see different things that can kind of go together," Bonni said.

Although each basket contains a stuffed animal and candy, the remaining items could feature a theme such as animals, bugs and a butterfly catching net, dinosaurs or games. Teen boys might find a baseball and baseball cap in their basket while teen girls receive jewelry and nail polish. The girls have a goal to add one book to each package this year.

‘Those are the special touches," Paulson said about the baskets. The girls' efforts mark the shelter's only Easter celebration. An average of 70 to 85 kids stay at the shelter, with most ages 12 and under.

Sometimes Bonni and Lindsea package practical items in the baskets such as blankets or wipes. Paulson said some of their greatest needs are hygiene products including sun screen, toiletries and undergarments.

The girls mark each basket for a boy or girl and an approximate age range. Shelter staff helps with distribution by telling them a little bit about each child so the girls can determine the most appropriate basket. Lindsea says it's fun to "pick the perfect person for each basket."

"A lot of the kids say ‘Thank you' or ‘Wow, this is really cool,'" Bonni explained. Distribution takes approximately two to three hours, allowing time to visit with children and parents at the CASS family shelter. An average of 30 to 36 families find a temporary home at Vista Colina.

The families are always excited to see the Easter bunnies show up. The kids often have trouble controlling their enthusiasm. "They take everything out and start playing with everything they can," said Lindsea.

Reach the reporter at ambria@thedesertadvocate.com.