Children enjoy weekend #8216;egg raid#039; in park

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Colorful balloons, smiling faces sporting rainbows; toddlers dressed in their Easter finery and laughter ringing through the warm spring air.

All this was a part of the &#8220He Lives” Eggs-Travaganza held Saturday afternoon in Confederate Park in Greenville.

There was no official headcount for the free community-wide event, but  organizers estimate somewhere between 150 and 200 children and adults attended the eggs-travaganza, sponsored by the Call to Life Worship

Center.

Children 10 and under came from across the county to participate in egg hunts, sack races, sidewalk chalk art and inspirational crafts.

Charlotte Blessingame, aka the Easter Bunny, tackled the warm weather with aplomb and posed for many photos with the youngsters, as well as taking time to share a few helpful hints on where to find those eggs.

Emcee Chad McGriff of Call to Life encouraged those present to remember the true meaning of Easter and to keep Christ in their lives this season.

&#8220This was a really nice idea. The children are having such a good time. And they had a wonderful turnout, I think more than they really expected,” said Linda Daniel of Greenville, who brought her grandchildren to the event.

Katie Campbell said her two-year-old daughter, Blair, proved to be a little too intimidated to have her photo taken with Peter Cottontail, but was still having a good time hanging out with her friend, Amelia Gregory, also two.

Zoe Coon, one, was getting a helping hand at the whole egg hunting thing from her mom, Becky.

&#8220I keep hiding the same two eggs and she's pretty happy with that,” Coon laughed as they sought out eggs around the park fountain.

Alyssa Thorton, two, and Kyndal Perkins, three, weren't sure if they were more pleased with the eggs in their baskets or the cross suckers they had been given, but they agreed they were having a great time at the Eggs-Travaganza.

&#8220This has been a good day. Chad is planning on starting things earlier next year and having more activities,” said Doyle Sasser of Call to Life.

Sasser also provided a table with information on missionary activities and support for area troops serving overseas.

&#8220We're so pleased to see so many people from across the community coming out to enjoy the day together,” Call to Life Pastor Jim Helms said with a smile, as he gave one of the children a warm hug.