Donna Hanson is enlisting the help of local community members to create Easter baskets to send to Ashland, Kansas. Ashland, Kansas falls in Clark County, an area that just recently experienced a massive wildfire that killed thousands of cattle and destroyed thousands of acres of land. Greg Gardiner, Clark County rancher, was interviewed by Michael Pearce for the Wichita Eagle.  The fifth generation on his family’s 48,000 acre ranch, Pearce quoted Gardiner saying, “They never stood a chance in a lot of these pastures, the fire was so fast”. Gardiner was speaking to Pearce about his “five hundred estimated cattle” he had lost. Pearce reports in his article that, for a time, Gardiner was unaware of if his brother and sister-in-law had made it out alive. They did. “This isn’t the first catastrophe we’ve faced, but I think it’s going to be the biggest speed bump we’ve run into for the ranch” Gardiner went on to tell Pearce. 

Per Hanson, the baskets that will be put together for families like Gardiner’s will include, “potholders, dish clothes, UNKERS from Upton are donating various items, lotion, decorated angels and wooden crosses from the 4H kids, Cattlewomen napkins, candy , gift cards and cash”.  Hanson says Ashland was chosen as the receiving destination for the baskets due to the feedback she received from Facebook. “I feel it is important to help out people, Mother Nature has dealt them quite a blow and just anything we can to help I am sure they will appreciate” says Hanson. 

In addition to the small Easter baskets, a giant Easter basket will be sent to the 4H families in Meade, Kansas who are taking care of the bummed calves from the fire. 

Those looking to assist Hanson can meet April 10 at the Niobrara County Extension Office to help put the baskets together. “I tried to come up with a way that we could help the people who were affected by the fire.  I wanted to think of something a little different that would help lift their spirits” comments Hanson.  Hanson adds that anyone wanting to donate items can do so by calling her at 334-3357 or leave them at the Extension Office. Items that would be useful include, “any fun items for the baskets, garden and flower seeds, just anything they feel would bring a smile to the faces of the people that endured the effects of the fire”. 

All of the baskets will leave Niobrara County just before Easter when a friend of Hanson’s plans to take them to Ashland. Once in Ashland, baskets will be distributed by an Extension office worker. For more information, Hanson can be reached at 334-3357.