The Silverliners are retired flight attendants who raise money and conduct endless charity work in their communities. The Key West group is bringing back its annual Fantasy Flight to the North Pole, which was stymied by COVID for the past two years.
But before that, the Silverliners joined forces to make Easter special for five local foster children.
The Silverliners work with Deborah Bailey, who calls herself a fairy godmother for local kids in foster care.
“I guess I’m the Mother Goose-type,” Bailey said.
And she’s right. Ask the scores of local foster kids she mentors, tutors and showers with the compassionate attention many have never received.
A combination of comfort, fun and accountability, Bailey is the adult with whom the kids want to share a good report card, an aced test or a teen-aged heartbreak.
“I have kids from years ago still calling to tell me about a good grade they got, and that feels amazing,” she said. “They’re just kids; they want to be seen and heard, but unfortunately a lot of them have been invisible.
“And most of these kids have probably never had a visit from the Easter bunny, so we’re going to change that for them this year.”
The Silverliners stocked giant Easter baskets with toys, candy, gifts and baby clothes for the little ones.
“We also got them passes to the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory and ice cream certificates at Kilwin’s,” said Silverliner Joyce Benavides.
