by Geoff Fox

Easter is this coming Sunday, but for kids in Hancock, the thrill of searching for Easter eggs came a week early as they gathered for the annual Community Easter Egg Hunt in Widmeyer Park last Saturday, March 28.

The Hancock Lions Club and Hancock United Methodist Church sponsored the egg hunt.

With temperatures in the low 50s with a sunny sky and a slight breeze, around 100 kids aged 2 to 10 lined up at their respective age group lines armed with baskets and bags to collect the plastic eggs in the grass.

Around 2,500 eggs were scattered across a marked off area of the park near the Lions Pavilion. Each egg was a winner with candy, tickets for prizes, or dollar bills placed inside.

The tickets were for five prizes and five baskets in each age group.

Members of the Lions Club, along with help from students from Hancock Middle-Senior High School, set up and keeping the lines in order during the hunt.

Rhonda and Marco Ward stuffed the eggs.

Before the hunt, and after, the Easter Bunny was hanging around for the kids and parents or guardians who wanted a picture.

After a prayer and an unplanned flyover from a bald eagle, the 2–4-year-olds hit the grass picking up eggs followed by the 5-7-year-olds and 8-10-year-olds once each had finished picking up their eggs.

The baskets and door prizes were sponsored by area businesses and residents.

When all was said and done, the kids had fun and were happy with their finds.