Charity gathering spring baskets for kids in need
A new nonprofit, The Andrew Effect, is seeking donations and sponsors for Easter and spring baskets for children across Butler County.
The organization began gathering holiday baskets to fill with educational toys and materials last year, and recently was registered officially as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization a month ago.
Founder and president, Candace Kantz, who lives in Zelienople, started The Andrew Effect in honor of her cousin, Andrew Jones, who was murdered 20 years ago.
“We always wanted to do something positive in his memory, and one of the reasons for the Andrew Effect is we want to find ways to have a positive impact on kids in need or kids in situations where they are struggling,” Kantz said.
The Andrew Effect partners with Seneca Valley elementary schools, the Butler Area School District Weekend Backpack program and the Southwest Butler County Food Cupboard.
In 2021, the group provided 330 spring and Easter baskets, and 400 Santa Sacks in the winter. This year, The Andrew Effect is aiming to provide 610 baskets in the spring.
Kantz focuses the efforts of the group on educational toys and wants to emphasize learning, she said.
“This effort is not about giving any toy or item to children, it is about toys, games and books that enrich their lives and supplement what children learn in school,” she said. “We focus on fun, engaging, learning enrichment toys. Children learn through play. We try to include items that will give kids the opportunity to explore, create and learn while having fun.”
Currently, the program has already gathered enough sponsorships to fund 40% of its goal. The cost per basket for sponsors is $30. Kantz hopes to complete the funding for the baskets by the beginning of April by reaching out to individuals and businesses.
“We’re just trying to inject positivity and exposure to other things to kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity,” she said.
Kantz hopes in the future to expand the program to other schools in the county and to other regions of southwestern Pennsylvania.
“We’re hoping to be able to grow,” she said. “My first step is to make sure we give all the schools in Butler County an opportunity to take advantage of this program if they have a need, or nonprofit organizations, like foster agencies, or anybody in Butler County that we could help. Then, (I want to) expand beyond into Allegheny and Beaver County, but right now our primary focus is Butler County only. It’s been really beneficial for us —everybody wants to help what is in our own community.”
