Sorority on a mission to help gift-givers

They're elves around Christmastime, and the Easter Bunny's helpers in the spring.

Local members of Beta Sigma Phi, an international women's service organization, volunteer their time around major holidays and special occasions to prepare affordable gift baskets for Impossible Dream thrift store shoppers.

"Sometimes we even think we'd like those baskets, and we had one lady who helped and bought a whole bunch for another organization she worked for, so it keeps on giving," said Anne Marie E. Reuss, president of the Laureate Iota chapter ofBeta Sigma Phi.

Preparation of baskets takes anywhere from three to five hours, depending on the number of baskets to be prepared and volunteers available to help, according to Barbara E. Harter, the chapter's vice president of service.

She, Mrs. Reuss and eight other chapter members gathered Saturday in the community room at the Watertown Urban Mission, 247 Factory St., to assemble gift baskets for Mother's Day.

Those baskets consisted of tea, cups, assorted silk flowers, beauty supplies and chocolates.

Select trinkets, candy and other goodies donated to the Urban Mission are saved for the gift baskets throughout the year. If there aren't enough items to fill all baskets, the Beta Sigma Phi women might find filler items in the thrift store itself.

"I brought paperback books from home this morning, and as soon as ribbon or cellophane goes on sale at craft stores, we buy them for the baskets," Mrs. Harter said.

Each volunteer enjoys a specific task — one stuffs a basket with shredded colored paper, a few fill baskets with various items, while Mrs. Harter puts the cellophane wrap on and Mrs. Reuss ties bows on them.

The women make anywhere from 50 to 200 baskets per occasion, priced from $2 to $5. Proceeds go to the food pantry at the Urban Mission, the nonprofit agency that runs the thrift store.

Mrs. Harter said she estimates that volunteers with the local Beta Sigma Phi chapter have helped prepare a few thousand baskets since they took over the project about 13 years ago.

Approximately 75 baskets were done for Mother's Day, and they should be available in the store beginning today. Beta Sigma Phi members will focus on other local service projects this summer, as they don't have to create more baskets until December.

Mrs. Harter said any women interested in joining the organization can call her at 788-8363 for more information.