IRMO, S.C. — A local park hosted an Easter egg hunt, focussed on serving people of all abilities on Friday.
Finding a fun egg hunt is a challenge most families in the midlands don't even consider when planning festive Easter activities this week. But for Shannon Hilton, it's an ongoing struggle to find somewhere for her disabled son to partake.
"We'll see the Easter egg hunts that kind of have about 200 or more children and families, for us with a medically complex child, we worry about him getting sick. Any time I see any events that are able and accessible for him, I'll sign up," she says.
That's part of the reason behind the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission's 'Egg-cessible' Easter egg hunt on Friday. According to organizer Lindsay Hudson, over 100 families signed up to join.
'It's a lot calmer than our other one than our other one this morning we had about 600 kids and it was loud and music kept playing, so this a good atmosphere," she adds, "We have about 2000 eggs. Usually, egg hunts take about two seconds but for the hundred kids we have today, it'll take them hopefully a little longer and then they can play on the playground."
Shortly after 6 pm, the gates opened and dozens of kids and their families were sent on the hunt.
Matt Culbreth and his son Noah joined the fun, he says the event gives Noah opportunities most other kids get.
"It's important just because it gives him developmental that he's still lacking," he adds, "It was a lot easier for him because he gets distracted very easily and a lot of kids wouldn't take the eggs from him."
Hilton says and wants other families to know they have a place here in the midlands too.
"I think it was a nice day and very easy for him to get eggs, and see other people like him," she says, "come out, have fun, and if you feel like your child won't be accepted, here everybody is accepted."