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Early Saturday, the City of Valley Grande kicked off their annual Easter hunt at the city’s ballfield catered to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to provide families within the community a day of togetherness. 

The annual event started at 11 a.m. with various games like cornhole and “Go Fish,” and there was also a small basketball goal at the event where kids could also have more interactive fun as well. 

The event also included speeches from Mayor Wayne Labbe and the Valley Grande Park and Recreation Director Bubba Holly about the significance of Easter followed by a prayer just before the initial Easter egg hunt began. 

Other members of the council were there as well including Councilwomen Sara Day and Kay Davidson. 

“Today, we had 10,000 eggs,” said Holly. “But, it didn’t take very long for the kids of the community to find them because there were so many kids out here today. And then four years ago when I first had the vision of doing the Easter egg hunt, we started out with only 6,000 eggs that first time. That only lasted about seven minutes, and this time, it was about the same.” 

Holly said during the hunt, he placed several little baby Jesuses in the grass for the kids to pick up so that they can understand the true meaning behind Easter and the official reason for the season.

“I just wanted to do that because a lot of people that you see don’t go to church regularly like I do, and I’m just trying to spread the word. That’s the main reason that I do this out here at the park is to bring the community together, to do something good for the community and provide a way where everybody gets to see everybody,” Holly said.  “It doesn’t matter who you are, what color you are, how old you are, everybody comes for one reason.”

Holly also said there were also several neighboring churches that contributed to the event as well to help mark the annual event as a grand success. 

 

“They helped us set up, put out the eggs and some of them had booths over to the side for the kids to play games and stuff,” Holly said. “And, all the churches that were here made all of this stuff themselves. So it may have taken them a little time to build it all, but I appreciate it and all the kids appreciate it too.” 

There was also a drawing to give away two Easter baskets to a family member of a boy and a girl within the crowd in honor of the Easter egg hunt event. The family member of the little girl who won was Lola Woods, and the family member of the little boy who won was Brooklyn Pouncey. 

“I feel great to know my child won,” said Pouncey. “I just told them I have bad luck; I’m not going to win but it feels good.”

Labbe told The Selma Times-Journal that he was really happy with the turnout of the event and said that it is an event that has grown bigger year to year. 

“But, we are just glad to have the churches involved in this, and each year, they have gotten better. This year, we had free hot dogs and drinks, and they had games for the kids. But the reason that we really came together today is Easter. We need to remember the reason for the season that Jesus Christ died for each and every one of us. And I reminded these parents today that if they didn’t have a church home that there’s plenty of churches in Selma, Valley Grande and that they need to get their kids involved in church, be in fellowship and have brothers and sisters in Christ.” 

Labbe thanked the community for coming out  and bringing their kids and that he is hopeful next year’s event can be even bigger than this year.