As Easter for Eli has grown, so has the way the joy is shared.
What began as a local effort surrounding Eli’s time in the hospital, has gradually expanded into something much broader, a network of individuals, families, and small groups who carry the mission in their own communities.
In places like Maryland, and West Virginia, groups such as Team Savage Easter for Eli collect, assemble, and deliver bags directly to local hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses. These groups often organize independently, gathering donations, packing bags, and coordinating deliveries on their own.
A small group prepared more than 130 bags in just a few hours before delivering them to WVU Children’s Hospital. Volunteers loaded vehicles and made deliveries directly to the hospital, for a hands-on, personal delivery.
This kind of effort reflects how the mission has evolved. Easter for Eli is no longer limited to a single location or team. Instead, it has become a shared effort carried out across multiple states by people who believe in showing up for children who are spending holidays in the hospital.
While the central organization helps guide the mission, much of the work is made possible by these local groups who step in, organize, and follow through.
That’s how a few baskets became thousands of bags delivered across the country.
And it’s how the mission continues to grow.
