72nd Annual Volunteers of America Capitol Egg Hunt

Hundreds of area families enjoyed day of fun, sweets and memories

   Hundreds of Central Pennsylvania children scrambled for colorful eggs on Sunday, March 16, at the 72nd Annual Volunteers of America Capitol Egg Hunt.  The public event coincided with the 112th anniversary of the founding of Volunteers of America.

   The festivities were held on the south lawn of the State Capitol.  Despite chilly winds, the event drew a large crowd.

   Excited egg hunters raced to fill up their baskets with candy-filled plastic eggs donated by the Republican Caucus and CORE employees of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.  More than 7,000 eggs were placed around the lawn by a group of volunteers, including members of the Central Dauphin Rams Club.  

   “The Volunteers of America Capitol Egg Hunt has been a Central Pennsylvania tradition for more than three generations,” said Alan R. Garner, president.  “We look forward to it every year as a great family event.”

   The youngsters also received new Scholastic books.  Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania provides thousands of new children’s books each year through a partnership with Scholastic Books, Inc. 

   Besides dashing for eggs and selecting books, youngsters also had the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny and received candy donated by Hershey Foods and Just Born.

   For 112 years, Volunteers of America has been providing essential human services that supports, nurtures and uplifts the human spirit, and empowers people to reach their full potential.  It is one of the nation’s largest social service organizations with more than 120 different types of services for people in need.

   In Pennsylvania, Volunteers of America provides such services as a child development center, foster care, emergency services, thrift stores, affordable housing for the elderly, facilitates domestic and international adoptions, supportive living for adults with chronic mental illness, pregnancy counseling, housing and training for homeless young adults, a transportation program for the elderly and those with disabilities, and numerous others.