Back on the egg hunt

The Easter Bunny is back on the trail and preparing to hop over to egg hunts at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton and the Hilty Home in Pandora. The longtime events have been sidelined for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the hunts are scheduled for April 9 in Bluffton and April 16 in Pandora. "Our residents love to fill the eggs. That is their job," said Barb Gossard, activity director at Mennonite Memorial Home. She said some of the seniors work in groups, while supplies are also taken to residents who don't leave their rooms. Hunts at Mennonite Memorial Home date back to at least 2006 when the event was held at McDonald's in Bluffton. "They hid the eggs out there on their property. Then McDonald's came to the home and asked if we would help," said Gossard. Mennonite Memorial Home filled 3,000 eggs that year, while the Bluffton Senior Center contributed another 3,000. The hunt continued at Mennonite Memorial Home until 2019, when it was held at Bluffton University's soccer field because of construction on Elm Street. The home is located at 410 W. Elm St. Gossard said an average of 150 to 200 children attend the egg hunt each year. There will be 3,000 eggs up for grabs this year, and the free hunt is open to children 8 and younger, accompanied by an adult. The event starts at 10 a.m. sharp, said Gossard. Participants are asked to bring their own baskets. The Easter Bunny is also scheduled to make an appearance from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will be available for pictures. Gossard said the Lewis Family McDonald's donates candy to fill the eggs, as well as raffle prizes for both the Bluffton and Pandora hunts. The residents love watching all the activity, she said. "If the weather is nice, we have a lot of residents that come out and watch. If not, they watch from the windows," she said. "It's a neat tradition." The hunt at the Hilty Home and Hilty Preschool & Child Care, 304 Hilty Drive, also starts at 10 a.m. Children ages 9 and younger, accompanied by an adult, are welcome. Groups for the hunt include ages 3 and younger, ages 4-6, and ages 7-9. Participants should bring their own baskets for collecting eggs. The Easter Bunny will also make an appearance and pose for pictures in Pandora. The event will be canceled if it rains. Participants will not be able to enter either building or use the restrooms. Dee Steffen, activity director at the Hilty Home, said she's been doing the hunt for 15 years, but it's been happening even before that. Residents help fill the eggs, and they'll prepare about 2,000 this year. "I hide them in boxes after they're filled so no one takes them," she said. "I know how my little residents like the candy." On average, about 200 children attend. "It starts right at 10 a.m. and it will be over at 10:04 a.m.," Steffen said, laughing. Steffen said everyone missed the egg hunts when they were canceled because of the pandemic. "It's wonderful to see things coming back, and it's just so good for these people in the nursing," she said. "We're really excited about it and excited about being around kids. We have a day care and we aren't allowed to have the kids coming down here. They miss the kids and the kids miss them." She said the children and the residents form close bonds. "I mean, these were their grandparents sometimes. They called them Hilty Grandmas and Hilty Grandpas," Steffen said. Wolf: 419-427-8419