TYRONE — Over the last 11 years, Easter for Eli has touched the lives of countless families, distributing more than 87,000 Easter baskets and $85,000 in gift cards to children in hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide, said founder Martin Garrett.

Garrett, the father of Elias “Eli” Garrett, for whom the Roaring Spring-based nonprofit is named, was the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce’s guest speaker at this month’s chamber breakfast meeting Thursday.

Eli Garrett died May 7, 2009, just days before his fourth birthday, his father said, after a battle with non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma.

This year, Easter for Eli set a goal to deliver 10,000 Easter baskets and $10,000 in gift cards to assist families.

Although the group’s donation deadline was last Friday, donations are still being collected at locations like Bake Shop Bakes, Garrett said, adding the group has already delivered more than 1,800 baskets to hospitalized children in Pittsburgh and Ohio.

They delivered the baskets Monday, driving in severe weather, Garrett said.

“We dealt with (snow) the whole way from Cleveland to Bedford. It was bad, but we said some prayers and got through it,” he said.

Another 2,200 baskets were loaded onto a trailer Thursday for an early-morning departure Monday to Hershey, Philadelphia, Delaware and New Jersey, Garrett said.

The following Monday, March 30, the group plans to deliver to Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, he said, adding they’ll be in Buffalo, New York, on Good Friday.

It’s a lot of miles to create some smiles, Garrett said, noting the work is rewarding.

“It’s a blessing to be able to share my son’s joy with families,” he said, adding Easter for Eli has representatives throughout the country who deliver baskets to children in hospitals in Eli’s name.

None of it would be possible without the community’s support, Garrett said.

“Everyone says we do amazing (work), but we couldn’t do what we do without everybody’s help,” he said. “The community has been unbelievable year after year.”

But everything costs money, Garrett said, adding the group created the Easter for Eli cornhole tournament last year at the Freedom Township fire hall in East Freedom. The event had 68 teams register and netted about $14,000, he said.

This year, the tournament takes place Saturday, March 28, at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory in Duncansville, he said.

They’re hoping to have about 80 teams this year, Garrett said, adding there will be a basket raffle drawing and food by Big D’s Barbecue and Catering.

Additional information about the event is listed on the group’s Facebook page, Garrett said.

The group accepts monetary donations through its Venmo account. Garrett said people can also give or volunteer with the organization by reaching out via Facebook, Instagram or by calling 814-215-8536.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.