The joy of a good egg hunt
The annual easter egg hunt is one of Stanstead’s finest moments. No one at Phelps minds giving up their weekend plans for this.
On a cold and cloudy Saturday morning little ones stood still, for once, waiting for the word that would free them from an interminable arrest. That word was “go” and it was finally uttered by a woman wearing bunny ears and a pink flower lei. Suddenly, there was a splash of life and children tightly gripping Easter baskets spread out into the perimeter of Stanstead’s historic Colby-curtis Museum. Little bodies could be seen bent over roots, shrubs and rocks. The children squirreled away their precious discoveries and eventually returned to their parents with expression of satisfaction and delight.
The annual easter egg hunt is one of Stanstead’s finest moments. No one at Phelps minds giving up their weekend plans for this. The event is made possible by the collaborative efforts of The Haskell Free Library, The Colby-curtis Museum and yours truly, Phelps Helps. It’s a time when families come together and mingle with their town folk. Old friends come out of the woodwork and new ones are made. There is something in it for every generation.
This year was unseasonably cool and once the egg hunt was over rosy cheeked kids burst into the museum’s solarium with parents following closely behind. All were greeted with a bounty of delicious foods including baked treats, fruit, coffee and tea. People nibbled and visited and sat in the light of the big beautiful windows. Some poked their heads around the corner into the main building and discovered Evelyn from the Haskell Free Library awaiting them with a story.
The easter bunny hopped about, took photos with little ones and broke his code of silence to catch up with a former colleague. When story time was finally underway, children circled around to hear about Clifford and his encounter with the Easter Bunny. A French reading followed the English one.
As the event dwindled to an end people began to slowly peter off. Families could be seen walking away hand in hand, their faces full of contentment. There is nothing we find more rewarding in our work than helping our local families feel connected and happy. Life is not always easy but when our community comes together as it did this past Saturday we are reminded that it’s worth every bit of the struggle.
Phelps Helps is a community-led non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, teens and young adults in Stanstead, Quebec and its surrounding areas. Through a range of free, tailored programs and initiatives, Phelps Helps supports educational achievement, careers, youth development and more. Its focus on collaboration and community engagement ensures lasting, positive change for a brighter future. For more information or to volunteer, please email us at info@ phelpshelps.ca, visit our website www.phelpshelps.ca or call us on 819-704-0799.