The Fruitvale Fire Fighters Society is hatching plans for the second annual Beaver Valley Easter Egg hunt Friday and this year they’ve recruited some help to make sure it’s as successful as the first one.
Close to 400 eager children and parents turned out for the inaugural Easter egg hunt in Fruitvale last year but the organizers weren’t quite prepared.
“It was a huge, huge event - we actually ran out of hot dogs because we really weren’t expecting that many people to show up,” said firefighter and organizer Rick Meakes.
So this year the society recruited Teck to help offset costs so everyone can enjoy some refreshments as well as the basket filling.
Liberty Foods is once again onboard by supplying 40 dozen hotdogs and buns, and along with Kootenay Savings, the firefighters will be hiding over 7,000 eggs.
They will also have allergy friendly chocolate eggs for hunters who can exchange their gathered eggs for peanut-free eggs at one of the fire trucks.
“It gives kids with food allergies an equal opportunity to come out and participate in a safe environment so they’re not going to get chocolate they can’t eat.”
There will be three age groups for ages three-and-under, four-to-seven, and eight-and-up scouring their respective areas at Haines Park field for bounty.
The society is a nonprofit group that has been raising funds to support individuals and families in crisis. Since 2006 they have donated almost $14,000 to assist families with expenses for hotels, food and transportation to Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
The firefighters invite all Beaver Valley families to bring their Easter baskets and meet Sparky and the Easter Bunny on Friday at 11 a.m. at Haines Park.