Cedar Valley Townhomes to host community Easter egg hunt

CEDAR RAPIDS - Residents of Cedar Valley Townhomes in Cedar Rapids are preparing for a full-fledged Easter celebration.

That means a lot of work for Veronica Johnson, tenant council president for the apartment complex, 3000 J St. SW, who said the biggest challenge is preparing for the Saturday egg hunt.

'We're planning on doing about 2,000 plastic eggs and another 600 boiled eggs,” Johnson said, adding that neighborhood kids are invited to help dye the eggs on Friday.

Those eggs will be placed in the complex's courtyard for what Johnson describes as a 'mad dash” egg hunt for both kids and adults.

But thanks to support from neighbors and the community, Johnson said the event, which is now in its fourth year, has been a big success. She expects more than 200 people - residents and their family and friends - to attend Saturday.

'It's been really well planned and well carried out,” she said.

The egg hunt starts at 3 p.m. with food served afterward.

Effie McCollum, vice president of the tenant council, said the Easter celebration grows larger every year.

'Everybody has a good time, they invite their friends and family. The kids really enjoy it, but the adults, they sometimes seem to have more fun than the kids,” McCollum said.

In addition to an egg hunt, with prizes for participants, the annual Easter event includes a meal with hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, macaroni salad and desserts, McCollum said.

Drop Inn Ministries, which promotes humanitarian efforts, will be donating all the food for the event, said Paula Pino, who manages the Drop Inn Resale Store at 1625 J St. SW.

Pino said one of the ministries' missions is to support local and international missions.

'We just want to help the neighborhood that we're in. The J Street apartments are right there and it's a great way that we can help out,” Pino said.

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