Easter egg hunt to be held for kids with special needs in April

March 12-- Mar. 12--POTTSVILLE -- Children with disabilities will have their own egg hunt at the South Cass Fire Company.

The idea was hatched after Amy Freed, Pottsville, went to an egg hunt last year with Dustin, her 7-year old son who has autism, but because of his disability he didn't get any eggs. The atmosphere with a siren scared him and he didn't have enough time.

"I was bummed," Amy Freed said of the experience for her son.

She wants to help avoid something similar from taking place to other parents and their children so she decided on the egg hunt.

Schuylkill County children 16 and under are invited to the free event held at 1 p.m.April 13. About 100 children have signed up so far, Freed said.

The limit is 300 children. Anyone interested can visit "Dustin's Special Egg Hunt" on Facebook or call Freed at 570-294-0908. Deadline is 7 p.m.March 31.

There are a variety of special eggs for the kids. At least 3,000 plastic eggs will decorate the field, which the fire company donated.

For example, children who are visually impaired will be able to find eggs because they will make a beeping sound, Freed said. Brighter eggs will be available for children with hearing impairments, autism or Down syndrome, while other eggs are available for children using wheelchairs.

Children are guaranteed to get an egg, Freed said. Candy will be inside the eggs, as well as coupons and other items. For example, Wheel donated 50 coupons for children's grill cheese sandwich meals. Prizes are also available.

"One of the prizes is a bicycle," Freed said.

Jeff Dunkel, Palo Alto, an organizer, is appreciative to the community for helping make the event possible.

"It's something that the community needed and everybody came together to make it happen," Dunkel said.

Sponsors for the event include Aaron's, Pottsville; CACL, Pottsville; Freedom Toyota, Hamburg; and Mechanicsville Game and Fish. Additional sponsors are still needed.

A Chinese auction was held in September to help make the event possible.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

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