Office Prank Leads to Happier Easter for Shoreline Kids

It started innocently enough, with the kidnap of a giant chocolate bunny and a series of ransom notes.  Some of the notes included photos of the bunny on location – traveling, running on a treadmill.

Schuyler Fraim, who works in Home Care Services for Seattle Children’s Hospital in Bothell, said after the big-eared bunny disappeared from his desk, coworkers started replacing it with Easter treats – bags and bags of Easter treats. The candy grew into a massive pile; more than he had any idea what to do with.

So Fraim came up with a plan: Turn the bunny ransom into Easter baskets for needy local kids. One of Fraim’s fondest memories as a child was the annual Easter basket from his parents, and he loved the idea that he could share that joy with other kids whose families wouldn’t be able to afford something like that.

Fraim put the word out in his office, and soon, the chocolate eggs, pastel jelly beans and marshmallow Peeps were joined by toy cars and tiny dolls, jump ropes and pocket-sized stuffed animals. Others brought empty baskets, green Easter grass, cellophane and ribbon. Then the assembly line began.

A few days later, Fraim showed up at the Shoreline Hopelink Center with dozens of filled Easter baskets, each with an assortment of treats and toys and tied up with a bow.

He said he was amazed at the response from his coworkers.

“It just took off – people kept bringing things to add,” Fraim said. “And it all started with one chocolate bunny on my desk.”

Fraim said the people he works with found inspiration in the project along with the knowledge that their efforts would brighten Easter morning for a lot of children in the Shoreline area. They’re already planning to get involved with Hopelink’s annual End Summer Hunger campaign to help make sure needy kids on summer break don’t go hungry.

Link to End Summer Hunger:

http://www.hope-link.org/take_action/end_summer_hunger/