An Easter egg hunt and a whole lot more

Foundations spread their reach in Annapolis neighborhood

Walking up to the Clay Street neighborhood of Annapolis on Easter Sunday, the sounds of loud music and kids playing were present with everyone dressed their best.

Diesha Contee wanted to have the Easter egg hunt because a lot of people who live in the neighborhood don’t engage. She is a lifelong Annapolis resident.

She wanted neighborhood kids to have something to do. And with COVID-19 restrictions still limiting events, there were no other public egg hunts in Annapolis.

“I love for the kids to have fun,” Contee said. “That’s the whole reason I did this event so they can have fun and enjoy themselves.”

She also wanted to spread the word about the organization she founded Rebuilding and Recreating Our Maternal Village, a

support and advocacy group focused on women.

“This event gives me more partnerships and connections with people because they see me doing different things,” she said.

Contee partnered with the I Have a Purpose Foundation in Severn to provide more than 150 Easter baskets Sunday. Extras left over were delivered to the Harbor House complex in Eastport and the Robinwood complex off Forest Drive.

Asia and Rich Williams are the founders of the I Have a Purpose Foundation and they host events throughout the year. The foundation serves communities in Anne Arundel and Baltimore.

“We plan to do more events in Diesha’s community and others, spreading throughout Annapolis,” Asia said. I have a purpose foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on community outreach, donations and mentoring.

The foundation was referred to Contee when they were looking to give away 100 baskets.

“We wanted to make sure we got them in right communities and people,” Asia said.

Rich said he loves to see the kids smile and giving back something he and his wife enjoys.

The foundation is opening up a distribution center since they recently partnered with Walmart and DTLR for donations. People will be able to get food, clothes, shoes and household products.

I Have a Purpose foundation will be distributing the items with Fresh Start Church in Glen Burnie at the distribution center.

“It is important for our community to have each other’s back, it is important to show kids in amidst of a pandemic that they are still loved,” Asia said.

With the pandemic, Contee wants to make sure local kids have a social life.

Asia feels like a lot of kids have lost a lot with the pandemic.

“This important to give back to the kids to understand that there is some sense of normalcy still going on,” she said.

“It’s all about the kids today, seeing them smile is the best,” Asia and Rich Williams said.

DONOVAN CONAWAY/CAPITAL GAZETTE PHOTOS Asia Williams hands out Easter baskets to kids Sunday on Clay Street in Annapolis. The event was part of an effort to foster a greater sense of community.

Children who attended the event received an assortment of treats.

DONOVAN CONAWAY/CAPITAL GAZETTE Rich Williams, from left, Diesha Contee and Asia Williams partnered to provide Easter baskets and food to the community on Sunday.