Local businesses and citizens came out in droves Tuesday morning to support a great cause in Michigan City.
About 30,000 plastic eggs were filled with mountains of candy in preparation for the second annual City-wide Easter Egg Hunt, organized by the Michigan City Police Department and Mayor Ron Meer, which is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 19 at Fedder’s Alley in Washington Park.
So it made sense for the nearby Senior Center was the spot to be on Tuesday, as the eggs were being filled by several volunteers. Tables were filled with small pieces of candy and numerous unfilled plastic eggs. Some volunteers stayed for hours filling hundreds.
“This is a great turnout,” Police Chief Mark Swistek said. “It is great to see the community come out and support this. It’s a nice thing to do for the kids.”
Swistek thanked the Senior Center for offering the facility for the egg-filling this year, noting that it was a bit difficult to find room for the many volunteers in the basement of the outdated police station last year.
“When the chief asked me about having it here, I told him we will make it work,” said Tara Miller, director of the Michigan City Senior Center. “It is a logical fit, because Fedder’s Alley is right here and we won’t have a long way to take the eggs.”
Miller agreed that Tuesday morning’s turnout was great, and added that many of the seniors took time to help as well.
“Our seniors are such great people that want to be a part of the community and give back,” she said.
Some volunteers were alumni of the Michigan City Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy, which has educated interested citizens in some of the inner-workings of the department during a six-week class that has been held in the fall since 2011.
Michelle Metcalf, a member of the inaugural class, said it “always feels good to help out the community,” and is happy about giving back to the Department by helping with the preparation for Saturday’s egg hunt. Metcalf, who works at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City and is in the midst of completing her social service internship at Sand Castle Shelter for Homeless Families, says helping children through by being a part of the egg gives her “great joy.”
Marisa Hamilton, wife of Michigan City Third Ward Councilman Ron Hamilton Jr., said she was glad to help out after missing last year’s event because “the eggs were filled so quickly.”
“We are glad to be able to make it this year,” said Hamilton, who was filling eggs at a table with her mother-in-law Judy Hamilton and sister-in-law Patti Jo Hamilton.
“A lot of people have donated candy, and it’s great to see people come together and do this for the kids,” Marisa said. “The police are really doing a great job for the city, and this helps illustrate that.”
Captain Ed’s Candy Island, Members Advantage Credit Union, Horizon Bank, NIPSCO and Washington Park Zoo were some of the numerous generous donors to help make this happen.
“Captain Ed donated a majority of the candy, but nearly every candy store in La Porte County stepped in to donate as well,” Swistek said.
While the Police Department has held Easter egg hunts at different apartment complexes in Michigan City over the years, last year was the first city-wide event in Washington Park, and the turnout was remarkable.
“It was huge, we had over 2,000 kids,” Swistek remembers.
With a year under their belt, some changes will be enacted for Saturday’s event, including the creation of age groups (0-3, 4-8, 9-12) so the “small kids won’t get run over,” the chief said.
‘Golden Eggs’ will also be scattered around the alley for children to find. These will include special prizes, including gift cards from several area businesses.
More volunteers will be needed Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. to assist in placing the eggs in Fedder’s Alley. Starting at 10 a.m., Captain Ed and the Washington Park Zoo will be on hand to entertain the children ahead of the hunt, which will start at 11 a.m. sharp, rain or shine.
Everyone is encouraged to arrive early as traffic was backed up on Lakeshore Drive at the start of last year’s event.