|
Volume 4, Issue 4 |
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April 2007 |
"It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody
cares about who gets the credit."
Happy
Easter! On the seventh of April, one day before Easter Sunday,
hundreds of children and their families converged on Hillyard’s
Andrew Rypien Field (south of Hollister-Stier, across the street
from Bemiss Elementary School), where they celebrated Easter and we
celebrated teamwork between organizations. The event was called the
Hillyard Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt, but in truth, it was an all
Hillyard and all Kiwanis event. A great many organizations,
all in
some way connected to Hillyard came together, including the afore
me
Together, all of these folks came together, long before the 7th to organize, contribute to, and promote this fun event. The event was completely free, publicized at many local elementary schools, with a story and ad in the Northside Voice, and through thousands of flyers and posters. Originally planned for 4000 eggs, as more and more publicity came together, we decided to up the ante and increased the number to over 5500, most of which were stuffed with candy and prizes by the “first lady” of Hillyard Kiwanis, Nancy. (Thanks Nancy and and all the egg stuffers). We collected prizes and give-aways in preparation to make the event even more fun.
"The era of the
rugged individual is giving way to the era of the team player. |
The
volunteers rendezvoused Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to get the
fields laid out and all the eggs distributed between the four age
groups. Participants were separated into groups from 0-3 years old,
4-6, 7-9 and 10 plus. Prizes were sorted, fields were decorated,
cookies were set out, coffee and cocoa were made ready and the
volunteers were put in place for the 11 a.m. start. The first
families started arriving an hour early, and by a quarter to 11, the
snack shack at Rypien Field was surrounded, 20 people deep on two
sides as they hunters divided themselves into age groups. On the
stroke of eleven, the bull horn sounded and a mass of little
humanity surged forth in a wave, consuming every speckle of color in
thousands of square feet of green field. In a couple of minutes it
was over and the hunters began examining their bounty. Hundreds of
happy children opened plastic eggs full of candy and the many
winners collected their prizes. We offered up large plastic garbage
cans to collect unwanted eggs for reuse next year, and we filled up
more than four.
Many families
went home and many stayed for a while and enjoyed the sunny weather;
picnicking, flying kites, throwing a football (the Spokane Shock
played later that day) or just enjoying each others’ company in the
outdoors. As the volunteers and hunters dispersed, I heard more
“thank-yous” in one half hour period than I think I have in my whole
life. It was a wonderful event, that not only entertained and
brought together hundreds of children, but it also brought together
a great number of normally independent organizations and businesses
under one banner, for the betterment of all of us. Yet another
wonderful example of “Hillyard Pride” in action.
| Volume 4, Issue 4 |
|
April 2007 |
