The Rushville Kiwanis Club, in conjunction with McDonald’s, recently hosted the annual Easter Egg Hunt in the park. Preparations for the event started months ago as McDonald’s Restaurant manager Shauna Kuhn invited donations for eggs, candy and prizes. The Kiwanis kicked in with a donation to the cause as did the RCHS Key Club which is sponsored by the Kiwanis.

Kiwanians Jerry Holdman and Beverly Price served as co-chairs of the Easter Egg Hunt committee. The committee secured more donations through February and March from many generous local businesses including Odum’s Feed Barn and Walk-In Closet.

In the weeks prior to the hunt, McDonald’s employees and Kiwanians packed eggs with candy and prizes. Even some gracious McDonald’s patrons pitched in to help fill more than 11,000 plastic eggs. The candy and prizes in the eggs could not have been purchased without generous donors such as the Snyder Agency, Bowles Construction, Citizens State Bank, Copeland, Davis Towing, and Douglass Body Shop. Some local businesses, Dairy Queen and Movie Gallery for instance, provided coupons and freebies for the eggs. Other donors of prizes or money included Fast Food Consultants, Elizabeth’s Keepsakes, Kopper Kettle Inn, Like-It Services, Long Lasting Designs, New Insight Family Counseling, REMAX, Rushville Family Dental, Rushville Pharmacy, and Twenty/20 Vision Care.

On the day of the Easter Egg Hunt, several Rushville Kiwanians and RCHS Key Club members roped off South Veterans Memorial Park for the event. Kiwanians and Key Clubbers also placed nearly 12,000 eggs throughout the park.

Hundreds of children and their families descended on the park shortly before noon. Former local radio personality Brant Petrey donated his time, energy and sound system to announce the event. The Easter Bunny, fresh from a McDonald’s breakfast, arrived via fire truck and enchanted the eager children. At noon, the hunt began and in less than five minutes the eggs were swept up by the little hunters.

Several large prizes were in the eggs including two savings bonds purchased by the Car Clinic and INCERCO, an El Reparo gift card, and a Marsh gift card.

At a recent Kiwanis meeting, the local club honored McDonald’s manager Shauna Kuhn with a certificate of thanks for all her hard work in helping plan the Easter Egg Hunt.

In addition to the above mentioned businesses and individuals who donated prizes, money or time, the Rushville Kiwanis and McDonald’s would also like to thank the City of Rushville, the Rushville Parks Department, the Rushville Fire Department, and the Rushville Police Department for their help in making the annual Easter Egg Hunt a wonderful success.