800 kids quickly locate 10,000 eggs scattered on courthouse lawn

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kids ages 6 to 10 take off at the start of an Easter egg hunt today on the Courthouse lawn in Albion.

The egg hunt started at 1 and in about a minute the kids had scooped up 10,000 eggs filled with treats.

One of nine big golden eggs is placed at the far end of a taped off area for the egg hunt. The kids were placed in three different age groups: 1 to 5, 6 to 9, and 10 to 14.

The golden tickets gave a chance for bigger prizes including an extra-large chocolate bunny, a scooter, a bicycle, cash, GoGo toys and McDonalds gift certificates.

Al Wilson, pastor of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries, and his wife Ykeeta Wilson welcome the kids for the egg hunt.

The 10,000 eggs is up from the 3,000 last year in the debut event organized by the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries. The kids took off fast at the beginning and quickly grabbed the eggs. The First Presbyterian Church is in the background.

The church spent about three months filling the eggs with candy and treats, and also putting together 600 Easter baskets which were all available for free to the community. The church ran out of baskets due to the demand.

A big crowd gathers to get an Easter basket after the egg hunt.

John Hollenbeck gets an order of French fries ready. The Masonic Lodge, which is led by John’s brother Matt, served 800 hot dogs and 125 pounds of fries for free.

Maciel Gomez of Mr. FineLines in Brockport gave haircuts for free. He is working on the hair of Kaiden Gray, 9, of Albion.

Nick Prest, an Albion high school student, volunteered to help kids move in inflatable balls. There were six bounce houses as part of the fun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pam Bennett hands out candy to sisters Alexis Stinson, 10, and Amber, 8, at Pretty Sweet Bakery.

This was part of an Easter Hop at 29 locations in the downtown, on South Main Street and Route 31. North Point Chapel donated 288 baskets and kids went to businesses to get treats. There were 430 baskets in all available for kids at the Easter Hop.

Ben Curfman (center), pastor of North Point Chapel, gave out 300 stuffed animals of dinosaurs, teddy bears and rabbits. The church also had packs of flower seeds.

Oliver Stoffa and Lux Froman gave out candies at The Coffee Joint, one of the 29 spots for the Easter Hop.