First Posted: 4/4/2015
LIMA — The Easter Bunny has once again made an appearance at Mizpah Community Center, this year.
With help from local volunteers, the center had almost 3,000 eggs full of treats, candy, coupons and other prizes for children to discover in its annual Easter egg hunt.
Brothers, 8- and 7-year-olds Steven Hilgert and Chaz Bott, were ready for action and to fill their baskets Saturday afternoon.
“We’re ready to find some Easter eggs,” Steven said.
Their mom, Angela Bott, was ready, too, hoping they’d burn off some energy during the hunt before their celebrations on Easter Sunday, including a cookout.
Vickie Shurelds, the executive director of Mizpah Community Center, said the hunt was originally called off because of a lack of funding. However, when another local organization stepped in, the Easter egg hunt was back on, with only two weeks to plan.
Shurelds said the lack in time to prepare and advertise, might have contributed to a bit smaller turn out than usual. Though a big crowd turned out this year, it wasn’t as big as last year’s with almost 500 people in attendance.
To make sure the Easter Bunny made an appearance this year, she and other volunteers worked late nights and went to the center at 6:30 a.m. the morning of the event to set up. The event began at noon.
Volunteer Anna Jones, who has been working with the community center for some time, was manning one of the free registration tables.
“It’s just so enjoyable to watch the children have fun,” she said.
Unlike years past, however, the hunt also included a cookout with both food for free or for a small charge with proceeds going to the center.
The event featured three hunts separated into three groups by age, infant to 3-year-olds, 4- to 7-year-olds and 7- to 12-year-olds.
“All in one fell swoop,” Shurelds said.
