Beverly Brooks, the "Bunny Lady" of the press release below, made the front page of the Manhattan American and The Reporter (Northern Illinois Conference edition of The United Methodist Church newspaper).
Below is the press release I wrote for the papers.
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Over 200 stuffed animal bunnies, ducks, lambs, and other critters made their way into the hands of children this Easter, thanks to two area United Methodist Churches and their respective "Bunny Ladies." Beverly Brooks, the original "Bunny Lady" from Manhattan United Methodist Church, and her friend Joanne Hattemar of Coal City United Methodist Church, headed up the collection of stuffed animal friends for kids.
Beverly Brooks began her bunny mission over 10 years ago to brighten Easter for children who had to be hospitalized over the holiday. The congregation of her local church and community happily donates stuffed toys, filling the front of the church with cuddly toys by Palm Sunday. Joanne Hattemar was inspired to join the cause in Coal City and kicked off their drive, which they called "Some Bunny Who Cares." This year, the Manhattan church gathered 105 toys and Coal City gathered 128, for a total of 233 toys to be distributed to children.
Toys were delivered to the Manhattan Food Pantry, Joliet Hospice,Christ Mission-Living Waters, Easter Seals Rehab, an area child care center, and the pediatrics departments at Silver Cross and Provena St. Joseph Hospitals. Over 50 small toys were given to Operation Care to be shipped to soldiers for handing out to children overseas.
"I enjoy this with the kids," said Beverly Brooks, after delivering the comforting toys with Hattemar and four helpers.
"Usually everybody does things at Christmas, and the rest of the year we tend to forget," said Joanne Hattemar. "There's a lot of need out there."
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