Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt

Loretta George

7 years ago

Angelyka and her dad, Daniel Simonds, pick up Easter eggs in the preschool section of the Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt March 24.

Fort Scott Kiwanis members hide eggs in plain view at Gunn Park for the smallest egg hunters.

Fort Scott Kiwanis members annually hide candy and prize-filled plastic Easter eggs in Gunn Park for the enjoyment of area children.

The Easter egg hunt is planned for the weekend before Easter, according to Kiwanis President Scott Flater.

Gunn Park is divided into varying age groups of children and then the eggs are “hidden” in that area, which is marked by a sign.

Prior to the hunt, the Easter bunny makes rounds to see the children.

The Easter bunny, this year portrayed by Carmen Flater, gets a little help from her husband Scott before appearing to the children.

The “calm before the storm”, when Kiwanis members hide the eggs in Gunn Park.

Following are the family members with preschool children around the perimeter of the area marked off. They are waiting for the 11 a.m. signal to begin the hunt.

Phil Gorman, Fort Scott Kiwanis Treasurer gives the crowd instructions before the egg hunt begins.

Fort Scott Firemen Alex Schafer and Dale Bolinger wait for the 11 a.m. time for them to signal the beginning of the hunt by sounding the truck’s loud horn.

In the preschool area of the Easter egg hunt, parents and children take off following the sounding of the horn by the Fort Scott Fire Department truck.

The hunt was over in approximately five minutes.

Fort Scott Kiwanis have several community outreaches, in addition to the Easter egg hunt.

The philanthropic group also serves a pancake feed on Shrove Tuesday, and a golf tournament in April, all to benefit the youth of the community, Flater said.

Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to change the world, one child, one community at a time, he said.

With money raised, they help the Court Appointed Special Advocates, and help the local school district, USD 234 with the backpack initiative, the indigent fund, and scholarships for Fort Scott High School seniors, he said.

In addition, the organization has helped rebuild the “fairy house” and the entrance archway at Gunn Park and planted 1000s of trees in the city of Fort Scott throughout the years, he said.

Board members of Fort Scott Kiwanis are Flater, president; Dale Johnson, secretary; Phil Gorman, treasurer; Mike Cheney, vice-president of programs; Gerald Hart, Bob Eckles, Mark McCoy and John Townsend.