Elkhart Chapter of Black Expo hosts annual Easter Egg Hunt

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- It’s the Easter Egg Hunt kids across Elkhart wait for every year and this Sunday, it’s back and bigger than ever.

The12th annual Egg Hunt will take place this Sunday at 3 p.m. at Ben Barnes Park at 1238 S. 6th St. in Elkhart.

"If you want to spend quality time with your kids, even if you don't have kids, if you want to see 1,500, 2,000 kids running and smiling and just enjoying life like this is like a big family reunion for the Michiana area. It's all generations, all races, all just people running, and kids running and having a good time and smiling and chewing on candy and hugging on each other. If you just want to come out, it's just a positive vibe," President of Elkhart Chapter of Black Expo Robert Taylor said.

Organizers are hoping to break last year’s record of 10,000 stuffed eggs, aiming for more than 15,000 this year.

Each child will receive a candy bag filled with 25 to 50 pieces, and everyone is asked to arrive early and bring their own basket.

Taylor says more than 40 people help hide the eggs and it sometimes can take a couple of hours.

But this year’s event has special meaning. It’s now named in memory of Peggy Thomas, a longtime community member and one of the original organizers who unexpectedly passed away this year.

Taylor says Sunday's event is all about her legacy of service and love for Elkhart.

"It's a true testament to why they call Elkhart the city with a heart because people in this community come together to make sure that this event happens. That's kind of what makes it different. Like all Easter Egg Hunts, they are special because they give people in the community a place to just go and gather. But this one is truly a community driven event," Taylor said.

Taylor says they're still accepting donations leading up to Sunday. The items can be dropped off at the Elkhart Chapter of the Indiana Black Expo's office at 312 Wagner Ave. Suite B in Elkhart between 4:30 and 6 p.m.