For a minimum $5 donation, visitors can pick up an Easter egg at HPC Credit Union, Wolverine State Credit Union, Alpena Community Credit Union, and Alpena Senior Citizens Center, with all proceeds to the Meals on Wheels program.

The Easter Bunny will be at various locations to visit with community members who drop in to support the program, which provides meals to seniors in Alpena County.

The Easter Bunny’s schedule is as follows:

¯ 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 14 at Alpena Community Credit Union.

Courtesy Photo Bozena Lynch hugs the Easter Bunny at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

¯ 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15 at HPC Credit Union on U.S.-23 North.

¯ 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15 at HPC Credit Union on Ripley Blvd.

¯ 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 at Wolverine State Credit Union on Chisholm St.

¯ 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 at Wolverine State Credit Union on Bagley.

¯ 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

Credit union representatives Ruby Haske (WSCU), Jordan Esch (ACCU), and Ellie Hoes (HPCCU) all agreed that it’s important to help the local Meals on Wheels program and seniors in the community. They gathered at the senior center on Monday for a photo with the Easter Bunny.

“I want to promote it because I want to help the seniors,” said Matt Haske, also known as the Easter Bunny.

Haske runs a cribbage league at the senior center, and enjoys working with seniors.

“The meals are important,” Haske said. “If you have a grandpa or a grandma that is in need, that’s why we’re doing this. And we need people to step out of the box and contribute, because we’re all going to be a senior at one time.”

Alpena Senior Citizens Center Director Annie Hepburn said Haske has been a huge help in getting this vital fundraiser going.

“Matt has partnered with us and the three credit unions,” Hepburnn said. “We started it last year, and it was just a thought that Matt had, but it really was a big success, so we’re really excited about that.”

She explained that each location has a basket of Easter eggs to choose from, for a $5 or more donation.

“They might win a prize, they might get a piece of candy,” she said. “But all those funds, and then, whatever an individual might decide to donate above that, all goes to our Meals on Wheels program.”

She explained that the program provides about 60,000 meals each year. Food costs have gone up, but the need remains the same.

“Our meal program, last year, provided, with congregate (dine-in) and Meals on Wheels, over 73,000 meals, just in Alpena County,” Hepburn said. “And our food costs have doubled since COVID. So, we average anywhere from $18,000 to $20,000 each month, for food costs and supplies.”

She added that the center receives some local, state and federal funding, but with rising food costs and continued need, fundraising is vital to the success of the program.

“That’s why we have to do these fundraisers,” she said. “That’s why we ask for donations. People that come here to eat that are over the age of 60, it’s a suggested donation of $4.50. That’s also with our Meals on Wheels clients. So, if they can’t afford it, they don’t pay for it, and we don’t ask those questions. We just do a suggested donation.”

She said the community’s support is very appreciated.

“Our Meals on Wheels program, and feeding seniors, really is our main program,” Hepburn said. “That is a program that needs to always happen, and with the recent ice storm, we not only feed the people, but we also do wellness checks.”

Hepburn said the senior center made over 300 calls to seniors just last week, in the wake of the storm that knocked out power for thousands in Northeast Michigan.

“We made emergency calls Tuesday (April 1), right away,” she said. “And some people, we couldn’t get ahold of, but it was because they weren’t home, or their phones were down, but we called their emergency contacts. If we could not get ahold of them after two calls, then I worked with emergency personnel, and they did wellness checks.”

She said they continue to check in on seniors.

“We’re doing phone calls, we’re checking on our seniors,” Hepburn said. “Sometimes, we’re the only face they see, so it’s important that this program continues. Our seniors really become part of us, and part of our family.”

Hepburn and staff delivered meals to Meals on Wheels clients last week, with kitchen staff making cold sandwiches and items that did not need refrigeration or heating up, as many were without power for several days to over a week.

“It was a little bit more planning on our end to make sure they had what they could use,” Hepburn said. “Most important was just seeing how people were doing through the storm.”

Hepburn added that many of the seniors they called to check on were safe with family members during the storm and power outage.

“There are many of our outlying seniors that don’t have power yet,” she said on Monday.

She said the community has really come forward to help others in a time of need.

“It really has been amazing to see people step up and look out for one another,” Hepburn said.

She said any donation helps support the program.

“A dollar matters,” Hepburn said.

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