|
|
|
PITTSBURG —
It took weeks to make all the arrangements for the annual McDonald’s Easter egg hunt, held Saturday morning at Lincoln Park.
The actual hunt was over within a few minutes, thanks to the hundreds of youngsters combing through the grass for colored plastic eggs.
“I’d say there were maybe 750 to 850 kids here today, or maybe close to 1,000,” said Sara Mitchell, recreation superintendent, Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department. “We can’t keep track of that. It’s crazy.”
She did have statistics on the goodies all those children got.
“We had over 7,500 eggs out and also gave away 180 egg coloring kits and 120 Easter baskets,” Mitchell said.
The annual event was co-sponsored by Parks and Recreation, the Pittsburg Family YMCA and the Pittsburg Area Young Professionals, with lots of volunteers helping make it happen.
“We had some Pittsburg State University international students who volunteered this year, and we were very happy to have them,” Mitchell said.
“We’ve been stuffing eggs for weeks,” said Brett Dalton, PAYP community service chairman. “Whenever we could get people over to Parks and Recreation, they’d go stuff plastic eggs.”
He said that his organization provided 20 to 25 volunteers.
“It’s always easy to get volunteers for the Easter egg hunt, because everybody wants to be part of it,” Dalton said. “It’s just a great thing to do for the community, and a lot of the volunteers turn around and bring their own children to it.”
The hunt was divided by age groups for babies through age 9, with a section for those with special needs.
“I like the way it’s divided by age groups so the kids aren’t on top of each other,” said Shannon Spear, who brought son Jonathan, 6, to the hunt.
The Easter Bunny made a special appearance, and Jonathan was pleased with that.
“Look, Mommy, the Easter Bunny gave me jelly beans!’ he said.
Sarah Mitchell, Pittsburg, said she brought three of her children to the hunt.
“One of them is too old now,” she said. “Last year they only got about three eggs each, and this year they all got a lot of eggs.”
She was also pleased that the hunt started at 11 a.m., which is later than in some years.
“There have been a couple of years we came at 8 a.m. and it was so cold,” Mitchell said. “I like it being later.”
Christel Benson believes the hunt is getting better and better.
It took weeks to make all the arrangements for the annual McDonald’s Easter egg hunt, held Saturday morning at Lincoln Park.
The actual hunt was over within a few minutes, thanks to the hundreds of youngsters combing through the grass for colored plastic eggs.
“I’d say there were maybe 750 to 850 kids here today, or maybe close to 1,000,” said Sara Mitchell, recreation superintendent, Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department. “We can’t keep track of that. It’s crazy.”
She did have statistics on the goodies all those children got.
“We had over 7,500 eggs out and also gave away 180 egg coloring kits and 120 Easter baskets,” Mitchell said.
The annual event was co-sponsored by Parks and Recreation, the Pittsburg Family YMCA and the Pittsburg Area Young Professionals, with lots of volunteers helping make it happen.
“We had some Pittsburg State University international students who volunteered this year, and we were very happy to have them,” Mitchell said.
“We’ve been stuffing eggs for weeks,” said Brett Dalton, PAYP community service chairman. “Whenever we could get people over to Parks and Recreation, they’d go stuff plastic eggs.”
He said that his organization provided 20 to 25 volunteers.
“It’s always easy to get volunteers for the Easter egg hunt, because everybody wants to be part of it,” Dalton said. “It’s just a great thing to do for the community, and a lot of the volunteers turn around and bring their own children to it.”
The hunt was divided by age groups for babies through age 9, with a section for those with special needs.
“I like the way it’s divided by age groups so the kids aren’t on top of each other,” said Shannon Spear, who brought son Jonathan, 6, to the hunt.
The Easter Bunny made a special appearance, and Jonathan was pleased with that.
“Look, Mommy, the Easter Bunny gave me jelly beans!’ he said.
Sarah Mitchell, Pittsburg, said she brought three of her children to the hunt.
“One of them is too old now,” she said. “Last year they only got about three eggs each, and this year they all got a lot of eggs.”
She was also pleased that the hunt started at 11 a.m., which is later than in some years.
“There have been a couple of years we came at 8 a.m. and it was so cold,” Mitchell said. “I like it being later.”
Christel Benson believes the hunt is getting better and better.
“I think each year the city and the Young Professionals are learning,” she said. “I like having the age groups divided and am glad they have an area for children with special needs. The signage is better this year, directing the children to their hunt areas.”
Her son, Braden Benson, said that he liked the hunt. His favorite part was finding the eggs. When asked what his favorite prize was, Braden held up a coupon for a free game of miniature golf.
Neither the city, the Young Professionals or the YMCA can take credit for it, but part of the hunt’s success was do to beautiful weather.
“We’ve been coming every year since we moved to Pittsburg, and the first year it was 40 degrees,” Benson said. “I think this is the best weather day that I’ve seen.”
