Easter comes early for children

[TSteven]

Easter comes early for children
Greeks hold event for kids
By Janet Robb
Published: Thursday, March 17, 2005
The Murray State News

Brightly colored eggs and prizes welcomed children to the Alpha Delta Pi and Sigma Phi Epsilon Easter egg hunt Saturday.

The Greek organizations held two hunts. One for children 6 and younger, the other for children 7 and older.

"(We) started doing an Easter egg hunt to reach out to the community, to help get the community involved and give back to them since they give so much to us," Joanie Balbach, ADPi President and junior from Louisville, said.

Balbach said there were about 65 children who searched for eggs last year. This year only about 32 children participated.

"We've had a good turnout every year," she said. "Easter came up early, so I don't think too many people were expecting it."

Other than Easter eggs filled with candy, children had the chance to win raffle prizes that included water guns, dolls and a soccer set.

"Each kid that (came got) to put their name in the bucket, and, after each hunt, two kids will win a prize," Balbach said.

April Tinsman, resident of Paducah, brought her two children, Kendall, 4, and Brielle, 18 months, and other family members to the event.

"We've recently moved back here," Tinsman said. "This is the first year that all the kids in our family have been able to hunt eggs together."

The event was a great idea she said.

ADPi started the Easter egg hunt a few years ago, but this year Sigma Phi Epsilon also got involved.

"Some Sig Eps approached us last semester wanting to help with our Easter egg hunt," Joanie Balbach said. "We thought it was a good idea so it just became a group effort."

Aaron Dail, senior from Kinston, N.C. and president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said the fraternity members helped stuff eggs and support the hunt.

"We filled the eggs with all types of candy," he said. "We have enough eggs to probably suffice Murray."

Dail said it is a great event to host for the community.

"I think we can all sit back and remember an Easter egg hunt we went to and how much fun it was (to) pick up the eggs," said Dail. "I think the smiles on the kid's faces is what we really wanted to see out here."