Spring has sprung in El Dorado and with Easter just around the corner, several local groups are getting a "hop" on the holiday season with a bevy of free community events that kick off Friday.
Meet Me at the Court issued a reminder about the ninth annual Sharion Bailey Whitlock Proclamation Weekend.
The multi-day event begins Friday and will roll through April 3.
The SBWPW is dedicated to serving the community, which is the mission of MMC, said Veronica Bailey, MME founder and CEO.
The event is named in honor of Bailey's late sister, who passed away in 2012 following an illness. Whitlock was 52.
Bailey said Whitlock had dedicated her life to helping others and was the inspiration behind MMC, which was founded in 2013, primarily, as a program to assist, guide and mentor youth in the St. Louis neighborhood, where Bailey grew up.
MMC quickly expanded its reach beyond St. Louis, with youth members joining from other parts of the city, and has grown into a community-wide organization that serves residents in El Dorado, Union County and South Arkansas.
This year is no different.
The group has been running on all cylinders with community-service and mission projects since the start of 2023.
In the last quarter of 2022, MMC youth set a goal of donating 1,000 canned goods to the Salvation Army of El Dorado after hearing that the SA's food pantry was running low due to increased demand amid inflation.
MMC exceeded its goal by delivering 1,223 canned goods and other non-perishable food items to the Salvation Army by Dec 31.
Immediately following the delivery, MMC youth members set another goal of donating 1,000 canned goods to the SA this year.
On Feb. 2, the group made its first trip of 2023 to the SA food pantry with 200 canned goods.
The donation served as MMC youths' monthly mission project.
Another donation is scheduled during the SBWPW, Bailey said.
Since February, MMC has also handed out 1,130 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits throughout the community.
The kits are available free to the public from the city of El Dorado, who obtained through a federal government program that reimbursed the city to make the supplies available to local residents at no cost.
MMC volunteered to help distribute the PPE kits.
"We started out with 100 and it went to 130. We handed out 130 boxes within 45 minutes and a group of my young boys from age 8 to older teens came up with a goal to deliver 1,000 boxes," Bailey said.
"They were eager to do something positive in the community, so the city delivered the boxes to my porch and those young boys loaded them off the porch and into my truck and we went out again," she continued.
Bailey said the group fanned out into local apartment complexes, single-family residences, churches, hair and beauty salons and other places in El Dorado and surrounding communities, including Calion and Urbana.
She said they also hit local restaurants after she received a call from a fast-food worker requested some of the kits for herself and her co-workers at a local business.
The kits may be picked up at City Hall, 204 N. West Ave., and the city's recycling drop-off center, 401 Liberty St. (the corner of Liberty Street and Cordell Avenue).
City Hall is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday - Friday and the drop-off center is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday.
People may use the drive-through service at the recycling drop-off center to pick up a PPE kit.
"We were able to go to different neighborhoods and we had a joyous time. Everybody was so happy to get the PPE kits because so many of them did not have transportation to go get them from the city or they could not afford to pay somebody to get PPE kits for them," Bailey said.
Bailey said more community service is on tap for SBWPW:
· MMC will kick off the weekend Friday afternoon by handing out free Easter baskets to children throughout the community. The deliveries will continue on Saturday.
Bailey recently said that two rooms in her house, including the living room, are filled to the bursting with Easter baskets.
· On Sunday, MMC will spend the day distributing dinner plates in El Dorado. Plates will come with either BBQ or fried fish with all of the fixings.
· Rounding out the SBWPW will be another MMC youth monthly mission project on April 3 to celebrate Whitlock's birthday.
MMC youth intend to donate another 200 canned goods to the Salvation Army's food pantry and deliver "Love Baskets" filled with food to area residents.
All SBWPW activities are free to the public.
For more information about the SBWPW, call Bailey at 870-310-0391 and for inquiries about the PPE kits, call Mayor Paul Choate's office at 870-862-7911.
El Dorado's Best Easter Egg Hunt and more
Also set for Saturday is El Dorado's Best Easter Egg Hunt. The event will be held from 9 a.m. until noon in the MAD Amphitheater, 105 E. Locust.
The free community event is being presented by One Heart Dojo and will include "basket contests", games and prizes.
The hunt will be divided into age groups and schedules, including 5 and under (9 - 10 a.m.); 6 - 9 (10 - 11 a.m.); and 10 - 12 (11 a.m. - noon).
Each child must be registered separately to participate. Space is limited. To RSVP or for more information, visit www.ElDoradoEaster.com.
Other upcoming Easter events in El Dorado include:
· 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., April 5, First United Methodist Church Easter Egg Extravaganza, MAD Amphitheater, 105 E. Locust.
The event will include Easter egg hunts, games, a hot dog dinner and an appearance by the Easter bunny, with whom attendees will be able to take photos.
The extravaganza is free and open to the public.
For more information, call First United Methodist Church at 870-862-1341.
· 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., April 8, Easter Market @ MAD. Vendors will be selling baked goods and other holiday-themed treats next to the MAD Amphitheater.
In conjunction with the market, Easter Egg Hunt @ MAD Playscape will be held from noon until 1 p.m.
The hunt is free and the Easter bunny may appear.
The playscape is across the street from the amphitheater and open-air market space.
For more information, call MAD at 870-444-3017 or visit www.eldomad.com.
· 2 - 7 p.m., April 9, Easter Sunday Funday, Mattocks Park, Detroit Avenue and Sharp Street.
The event is free and open to the public and will include free hot dogs and popcorn. DJ Ced Hill will provide entertainment.
An Easter egg hunt will begin at 4 p.m. Winners will receive cash prizes.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and coolers. Vendors will be on site.
The Funday is presented by D'Assassin and will be hosted by Veezy Vee, Vorci, Tyte, Muka and New Money, Inc.
Anyone who is interested in being a vendor may reach out to Keontae Da'Mon, via Facebook.
· 12:30 - 3 p.m., April 16, Community Easter Egg Hunt, Mattocks Park. The event will include free food and drinks. The event is presented by JT & Lia B: Playhouse Productions.
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Smackover is set for April 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Smackover basketball court. This event is presented by Smackover Youth Foundation. For more information, reach out to Roneesha Williams at 248-389-6340.