Thousands turn out for Mooseheart egg hunt

Chilly weather failed to deter a huge crowd of 4,000 from attending Mooseheart's eighth annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 24.

Children and their parents bundled up, but cleared a football field covered in nearly 20,000 eggs, candy, plush animals and other items in less than 10 minutes.

Inside the campus' field house, there were free photos with the Easter Bunny, a free hot dog lunch, face painting, bounce houses as well as crafts. Outside, there were pony rides and a petting farm.

Mooseheart is a residential child care facility, located on a 1,000-acre campus, off Route 31 between Batavia and North Aurora. The Child City is a home for children and teens in need, from infancy through high school.

Dedicated in July 1913 by the Moose fraternal organization, Mooseheart cares for youth whose families are unable, for a wide variety of reasons, to care for them.

Some have lost one or both parents; others are living in environments that are simply not conducive to healthy growth and development. Whatever the reason, the men and women of the Moose, through unparalleled generosity and volunteerism, furnish the resources necessary to care for children in need. The Moose fraternity provides children with a wholesome homelike environment and the best possible training and education.

They need to continue to strengthen an academic program and vocational program that works and allows students to take strides to learn at grade level and graduate with a college scholarship.

Eighty percent of Mooseheart graduating seniors enroll in two- and four-year universities around the country. Mooseheart Child City and School gives children a second chance at childhood in a safe environment where they enjoy a solid education and home.

Visit www.mooseheart.org or follow them at www.facebook.com/MooseheartChildCity/.