BEALLSVILLE — A Beallsville woman gives away Easter baskets each year filled with goodies to the youth in children services.

Pat Marcum began a Discovery Toys Easter basket program for children in need in Monroe County eight years ago. Then, five years ago, she expanded the program to offer baskets to children in Belmont County because of contributions from friends, family and the community.

As of last year, she included Noble County. This year, Marcum gave out 99 Easter baskets to children in each of these counties.

Each basket includes Discovery Toys, candy, dental supplies, Easter toys, bubbles, stuffed animals and two books for children under seven.

Discovery Toys is a home-based business since 1978 that Marcum joined 12 years ago. The business provides high quality, developmentally appropriate toys for children from birth to teenagers.

“That’s what we do,” Marcum said. “Discovery toys is kind of like a little secret. I think when people find out about Discovery Toys, they love them, but everyone doesn’t know about them.”

Marcum joined the business as a team leader the day she retired teaching. When Marcum’s son had to get his tonsils out in 1993, at the doctor’s office, there was a toy with marbles where the game involved a series of tubes the player puts together and the marbles race down them. She said her son loved that toy, and she wanted to get it for him for Christmas, however, she couldn’t find it anywhere.

She called the doctor’s office who told her it was a Discovery Toy, so she was connected with a consultant who then brought toys for all of the children at Marcum’s party. Twenty years later, Marcum’s first graders were playing with the marble toy, but a little piece of the toy was broken off, so she wanted to see if Discovery Toys was still in business because the toys had a lifetime guarantee. Excitedly for Marcum, it was.

She contacted the business and told a consultant she needed a piece for the marble toy that was her son’s toy for a long time. Then, after she retired, she wanted to be a part of the company that she described as great and joined it.

Now, she’s a consultant that does home parties, bringing products from the business that are available to gatherings, personal shopping experiences, fundraisers and events. However, Marcum no longer does events like she used to.

When Marcum started the Easter basket program through Discovery Toys, she started with Monroe County because she is from Beallsville. She raised funds from people donating $30 for a basket, where she put in toys, Discovery Toys, books, a plush animal, toothbrushes and Easter candy.

Marcum knows the children’s first name, ages and if they’re a boy or a girl to determine what kind of items she will put in the baskets. She said each basket is made specifically for the child.

She said the program became so popular that when she would post on Facebook and say, “It’s time for Easter baskets,” donations would start coming in from the community.

She then added Belmont County because of the generous support.

Last year, the Eagles in Woodsfield donated $1,000 to Marcum, so she included Noble County.

Marcum said people have told her “Don’t forget me next year,” because they’d like to sponsor an Easter basket for these children. She described this support as wonderful.

Marcum and her husband delivered the 99 Easter baskets this year during the last week of March and first week of April. After she and her husband delivered them to the caseworkers, they then delivered them to the specific children. Now, the children have received their baskets just in time for Easter this Sunday.

Marcum said she spoke to a worker from children’s services in Monroe County who told her people remember children at Christmas time but forget about other holidays when children can get gifts.

“My mom would have said, it does my heart good,” Marcum said. “And it does make me feel proud that we’re able to do this.”