Easter event pairs children with 35,000 treat-filled eggs
By Jessica Groover .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Most of the children who came to the Rocky River Community Church Easter Egg Hunt did not have a hard time finding the colorful eggs on Saturday. They had a problem fitting all the ones they collected in their baskets or bags.
The church had 35,000 brightly colored, plastic eggs lying on a field, available for children at the ninth annual egg hunt at Pitts School Road Elementary School.
“I wasn’t expecting this many,” said Leah Thompson, of Concord, who came with her sons, Greyson, 10, and Justin, 8. “Our baskets aren’t big enough to hold all the eggs.”
This year’s egg hunt had about 10,000 more eggs than last year’s, and it added six moon bounces, which were a favorite among children.
Amy Bunker, of Charlotte, said her son, Gus, 5, enjoyed jumping in the moon bounces, especially while he was waiting for his age group’s egg hunt.
To make sure each child had a fair chance at the eggs and candy, the church divided the field into different age groups.
Dividing the ages up was something many parents liked so that the smaller children were not injured by older children.
The group of 3- and 4-year-olds cleared the field of eggs in a little under 10 minutes, while the 5- to 8-year-old children took less than three minutes.
“It was like a race,” said Alyssa Howard, 5, of Concord.
Besides the candy inside the eggs as a prize, there was also a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to Concord Mills that the church purchased.
Children could also have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny.
Last year’s egg hunt was at Frank Liske Park, but the church moved it to the school where the church members attend service so that they could attract more members.
Sixty-five church members volunteered at the event, and Donnie Icenhour, pastor of connections for the church, said he thought about 2,700 people attended in the first hour.
Icenhour and many of the attendees were pleased with the event and look forward to next year’s egg hunt.
“Right now, I don’t think there’s anything we’d do differently,” Icenhour said. “The Lord has blessed us and blessed the day.”
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