The Harrison Township Recreation Commission will host its annual Easter egg hunt at William Wilt Soccer Complex on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m.
Rain date is the following day at 1 p.m. The commission expects a large turnout for the event and has ordered about 10,000 eggs, according to recreation coordinator Sharon Chew.
“This is a great event,” she said. “It’s always been an annual event here and it’s been growing more and more since.”
Kids will be placed into one of four groups based on their ages. The age groups are ages 2 and under, kids 3 to 5, ages 6 and 7 and kids 8 years and older. That way, the hunts are organized and parents with multiple kids can have them remain in one place. Candy will be inside the eggs, except for the 2 years-and-younger group.
“For the little ones (2 and under), there will be toys and other things in the eggs, since they’re not old enough yet to eat candy,” said Chew. “Even though the parents would probably like some.”
The egg hunt is co-sponsored by both the township police department and its fire district. The former will handle security and the placing of the eggs, and the latter will escort the Easter bunny to the park on a fire truck.
The bunny will lead the charge into each hunt, and after the last group has finished, will go to the park’s gazebo to pose for pictures with kids. Also available to youngsters will be Easter baskets loaded with a variety of goodies.
Each hunt will feature two golden eggs that can be found and redeemed later in exchange for a chocolate Easter bunny. Eggs are donated each year by a member of the commission, Ray Marcolongo. Providing the other eggs for the event is National Entertainment Technologies Inc., a company that employs special-needs and disabled people who help assemble the eggs.
“For us, it’s a win win in using them,” Chew explained of the company. “It helps us and them, as the agreement helps provide work for special-needs people. And we help an organization such as this, while we receive the eggs for the event and don’t worry about packaging them ourselves.”
The event is also being held to support the local food pantry Your Place at the Table (YPATT). Donations requested include peanut butter, jelly, oatmeal, applesauce, syrup, dish soap and baby wipes.
