MONTPELIER — A local bar owner is rallying the community to collect donations so that children in need will have a holiday basket when they wake up on Easter Sunday.

Athena Michel, owner of The Hitching Post bar located on 839 Washington St. in Montpelier, said she wanted to do this fundraiser after finding out that families who rely on food stamps can no longer use their benefits to buy candy.

"I did the Angel Tree this last year," Michel said. "I realized why can't we do Easter baskets for people who can't afford it for their children?"

Michel said she hopes to gather enough candy to fill 40 Easter baskets. On the Sunday before Easter, she will invite people to help gather the candy together and fill the baskets.

"We'll stuff the Easter baskets, and then the parents can come pick them up," Michel said.

People who want to contribute can either donate candy or money to purchase candy. Michel hasn't received a lot of donations yet since the fundraiser just started, but she hopes to receive more soon.

"Someone anonymously donated 40 stuffed animals," Michel said. "They donated Easter bunnies, chicks, ducks and whatever else goes with Easter."

Michel said she had a good experience with the Angel Tree during the Christmas season as she invited people to The Hitching Post to fill stockings.

"Every child we had on our Angel Tree got a Christmas stocking," Michel said. "People came and we filled them all. It was great."

Michel said she hopes her efforts will inspire others in the area to do something similar to help children in need during the Easter season. She doesn't want any child to be disappointed on Easter.

"I would love to see people do it at other bars," Michel said.

Nicole Beresford, Michel's daughter, said people can leave their donations until Friday, March 20, and the bar would be putting the baskets together on Sunday, March 29.

"We will provide lunch for the people who come," Beresford said. "I'll get ahold of the parents, and they can pick the baskets up."