Oakland Presbyterian creates Mother’s Day baskets for hospitalized children

The gift baskets will be delivered in time for the kids to give their moms a present on their special day.

By Amy Quesinberry
| 10:53 a.m. May 8, 2019

Linda Holbrook and Sherry Hurt were among the volunteers creating the Motherâ€™s Day baskets at Oakland Presbyterian Church.

West Orange Times & Observer
Neighborhood

Each basket is slightly different, but they all are prepared in the same way — with love for young mothers who will be sitting in the hospital with their children on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12.

The project at Oakland Presbyterian Church, now in its sixth year, gives hospitalized children the chance to present their mothers with gift baskets full of thoughtful items. Members of the Mission Committee and other volunteers gathered last week to assemble the 225 baskets, filled with note pads and pens, candy, a jewelry box and piece of jewelry, Guidepost magazine, mugs with tea and hot chocolate, soft socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste and a surprise gift.

As the baskets were filled, other volunteers applied shrink wrap and topped it with a colorful bow.

The gift baskets will be delivered Friday to AdventHealth for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

Oakland Presbyterian started the basket project in 2014 at the suggestion of church members Al and Pam Passwater.

Suzy Smith adds a colorful flower and bow to the Mother’s Day baskets.

author

Amy Quesinberry

Community Editor Amy Quesinberry was born at the old West Orange Memorial Hospital and raised in Winter Garden. Aside from earning her journalism degree from the University of Georgia, she hasn’t strayed too far from her hometown and her three-mile bubble. She grew up reading The Winter Garden Times and knew in the eighth grade she wanted to write for her community newspaper. She has been part of the writing and editing team since 1990.