2nd Annual Egg Hunt Offers 13,000 Eggs

Posted Apr 4, 2007 by Jessica Balanza

Updated Apr 4, 2007 at 11:03 AM

By JESSICA BALANZA

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Children from Northwest Hillsborough will have about 13,000 eggs to find at this year’s MorningStar Church Easter Egg Hunt April 7 at 9:45 a.m.

The egg hunt is set to take place at Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Highway, where the church holds its Sunday service.

“We had heard of it at other churches and decided to try it, and it was well responded to,” said Mona Coats, associate pastor of the church and coordinator of the event.

About 250 people attended last year’s event and about 10,000 plastic eggs filled with goodies were hidden along the school grounds for children to find.

Coats said this year the church has 3,000 more eggs that were donated from Bridgeway Church in New Tampa. She added they order their eggs for the main activity from Ayers Distributing in Georgia. The company employs individuals with disabilities.

Like last year, the Easter Bunny will be present for photographs. Children will also be able to partake in activities and enjoy the bouncy slides and moonwalks.

“We had a great time,” said church member Heather Byrd, who volunteered at last year’s event. “It’s a really fun event and lots of people attended.”

MorningStar, a nondenominational church, has been in the Citrus Park area for about seven years.

The church started with a group of four members and now has a group of about 150 that meets at the school, said Coats.

Other than the Easter egg hunt, Coats said the church is also known for its summer block party and its delivery of Thanksgiving baskets.

Although the church has no permanent home yet, Coats said members have been raising money slowly.

“We don’t want to get in lots of debt,” said Coats. “So we are waiting to raise the money.”

Coats said the event, which also includes food and live entertainment, is entirely free to the public.

“The egg hunt is to tell Citrus Park that we care and offer them a free event,” said Coats.

Registration for the event will start at 9:45 a.m. it will be followed with activities at 10 and the actual egg hunt is at 11:30.

For information on event or church, call 948-0440 or visit http://www.mstarchurch.org.