Spring arrived on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016, but one springtime event has been in the planning stage for months: the Annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 26. Look for Fire Chief Dave Benters to deliver the Easter Bunny to the park at 9:45 a.m. Egg-gathering fun–for those 12 and younger–begins at 10:00, with children divided by age. Bring your phone or camera and a container.
Kiwanis purchases candy, stuffed animals, and prizes for the children. Envelopes containing gift cards are among the Kiwanis gifts for older children. Parents should be sure to read any paper notes inside the eggs before departing. The Easter Bunny will award the larger prizes after each heat. Kathy Fredericks supplies non-sugar candy alternatives.
Preparing colorful eggs is a monumental task. What makes it work efficiently is the combined effort of Kiwanis Club members, Morrison High School Key Club students, and residents of Resthave Retirement and Nursing Home, 408 Maple Avenue, Morrison, IL.
On Saturday, March 19, from 9:15 to about 11:00 a.m., these groups gathered for an all-out assault on about 1600 empty, plastic eggs and mounds of candy. Strewn across tables were Starbursts, Tootsie Rolls, Skittles, Fruit Snacks, chocolate eggs, Mr. Goodbar and Hershey’s mini-bars, Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey’s Kisses. Free food coupons from DQ Grill & Chill and Hardee’s will be given, too.
A continuing asset to the Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt is involvement by the Morrison High School Key Club. Nine members assisted 14 residents, overseen by Easter Bunny. Nancy Gravert submitted this group photograph. Left-to-right are Ellie Schmidt, Abby Houzenga, Rachel Magana, Ashley Damhoff, Key Club Easter Bunny, Korey Zigler, Eric Sipes, Morgan Stohlman, and Grant Slater. Not shown is Alexis Cassibery.
Next Saturday Damhoff and Zigler will return to help children at the egg hunt in Kiwanis Park, with these additional Key Club members: Grant Abell, Sydney Beveroth, Kylie Brands, Lillian Maxfield, Emma Melton–Bunny’s escort–and Molly Mickley.
Shown left-to-right with the Kiwanis Bunny are Florence Tripp, 90, formerly of Chadwick, IL, and Katherine Janssen, 88, from Rock Falls, IL. They have known each other since preschool age. Kiwanis member Frank Vandermyde is in the background. Nick Becker, Walt Gorzney, Betty Jo Schmitt, and Deb Stiefel are other Kiwanians who assisted the residents.
Left-to-right are Houzenga, Easter Bunny, Kiwanis Key Club Advisor Kris Bielema, resident JoAnne Glandon, Damhoff, and resident Hubert Londo, age 93. They made a good team. The Egg Hunts are ready to begin.
