Huge Crowd at our annual Egg Hunt
Pouring out Easter Eggs onto a huge field. Getting ready for the kids to come.
Our annual Easter Egg hunt is so much fun. We call it the “world’s largest” egg hunt, because – well – so many people come to it, and it takes over 100,000 eggs (filled with candy) each year to make it work. By Saturday morning, we had 120,000 eggs in place, ready to distribute. In the picture to the right, you can see how we “hide” the eggs. We operate the egg hunt on a big field divided into six lanes, and we have pre-boxed plastic eggs filled with candy ready to go. The volunteer to the right is pouring out the eggs on the field for the next group of kids to find. Did I mention that the egg hunt is “so much fun!”
By 6:30 this past Saturday morning, the “bouncy houses” were in place, ready for the children. By 7:00 a.m., the donated hotdogs were being cooked on the grill. By 9:00 a.m., volunteers from across our community came to get a van or bus to pick up children from apartment clubhouses all over the city. The bus drivers stayed on the job until the last child was driven home, well after closing time at 3:00 p.m. By 10:00 a.m., at the opening bell, Mission Arlington buses began to drop off the Bible study leaders and the children. Scores of people began to arrive, “walk-ups” who were there to enjoy the day with their family.
The first experience of the Egg Hunt involved the sharing of the Resurrection story, found in Scripture. Everyone who attended the egg hunt got to hear a 10-15 minute 
re-telling of the Easter Story shared by a Mission Arlington® volunteer. The second station involved a hot lunch – with hotdogs, chips, and drinks. Bouncy houses were third, followed by the egg hunt. Sounds of laughter filled the air all day long, and smiles were on the faces of children and parents alike – everywhere you looked. To top it off, the Arlington Fire Department brought one of their big engines. Children enjoyed climbing in and out of the big-red vehicle, and spending time being with the fire department team.
When it was all over, nearly 3,877 children (with their families) attended the Egg Hunt. What made it even more beautiful was knowing that it was you who provided the plastic eggs and the individually-wrapped bags of candy. You also came to the Mission in the weeks leading up to the Hunt – putting the candy in the eggs and taping the eggs shut. What a wonderful day.
