Large turnout for adult egg hunt
The St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department held their Annual Shop With a Cop Easter Egg Hunt this past weekend at Mineral Area College.
St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department Shop With a Cop Coordinator Lora Henson said there were roughly 8,000 filled eggs put out for the hunt.
“The event turned out great and we had approximately 261 people show up,” said Henson. “It seems like everybody did well and they have lots of bags that are full of eggs. Krista Sedgwick said we had over 8,000 put out, so it was an overall good event. I am really looking forward to next year because this event just keeps growing. The community and everyone has worked hard to make this happen. Krista has worked a lot of hours and our deejay has come out, he donates his time to us and he has helped us out with a lot of events.”
The eggs were thrown out in the lower field and on the hill by the bleachers next to the baseball field. Every egg had something it. As it got dark, everyone started lining up with their flashlights waving back and forth across the field in anticipation.
The horn was blown and cheers filled the air from the crowd as they ran down the hill and into the field grabbing as many eggs as they went along. In a matter of 10 minutes or less, all the eggs had been picked up and put into the hunters’ bags.
St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock said he thought it was a very successful even though it was a little cool and wet out.
“A lot of people probably stayed home, but we still had well over a couple hundred people that were here to hunt eggs,” said Bullock. “It was quite a race for the eggs and there have been a lot of people coming back wet and muddy with sacks full of eggs. They came up to ‘Start’ claiming their prizes.”
A roomful of prizes sat in waiting as eager egg hunters slowly made their way inside to turn in their tickets that held either a number or letter on them. The line started forming and soon wrapped around the walkway in the field house. Volunteers diligently worked to get everyone’s prizes together and handed out as quickly as possible.
Prizes ranged from a foam coolie cup to a BBQ Pit or a Miller Light umbrella or cooler. There were thousands of prizes that included gift certificates from various businesses throughout the county, items donated by businesses with their names on it, a life size card board cut out of Luke Bryan, T-shirts, gift baskets, glasses, water bottles and the grand prize was a eight-pack of Cardinals tickets donated by the sheriff.
Henson said this is the biggest event that starts off their year of fundraising for the Shop With a Cop program. There will be other fundraisers throughout the year and everyone can keep up to date on the Facebook page: St. Francois County Shop With a Cop.
“It’s a good community thing that comes together, it’s the local businesses that make it all possible with their donations,” said Henson. “We couldn’t do it without them. All of the proceeds from this will go to Shop With a Cop for 2015. This year we raised roughly $1800 or so with the registration fees, pizza sales and the photo booth. Check out our Facebook page to keep track of all the upcoming events.”
Sedgwick said she originally started this to be an “original fundraiser” in memory of her Dad, Bud Sedgwick.
“I chose Shop With a Cop because my dad’s favorite thing was Christmas and he loved watching people receive their gifts, especially kids,” said Sedgwick. “With Shop With a Cop, the money stays local. Most of all it helps so many local children which would make my dad a very happy man, and the money goes right back into our community. I had the opportunity to help with the Shop With a Cop at both stores this past year, which was an amazing feeling. My goal is to make this more successful each year.”
Sedgwick said when she decided to contact the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department that was the best decision she could have ever made.
“My boys, mom, aunt, uncle and lots of close friends help me each year,” said Sedgwick. “I have tons of support and help from St. Francis County Sheriff’s Department and we work hand in hand and now call it the Shop With a Cop Adult Egg Hunt.”
There were also vendors who showed their support by getting a booth and setting up to show off or sell their products.
“Now that our 8th annual Adult Egg Hunt was another successful year, words cannot express my appreciation for all the community support we received all the way around,” said Sedgwick. “From business donations, MAC for the use of their facility, our eager hunters, our vendors, everyone who helps with the event, my friends and family who for hours on end stuff eggs with me, none of this would be possible without you. I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you. We invite you back to hunt with us again next year and we look forward to seeing you there.”
Volunteers work hard to get egg hunt participants the prizes that they won. Each egg was stuffed with a number, letter, coupons or candy.
St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department Shop With a Cop Coordinator Lora Henson, right, registers eager participants for the Shop With a Cop Adult Easter Egg Hunt Friday night.
Jennifer Lashley, center, wins the Shop With a Cop Adult Easter Egg Hunt grand prize, which were St. Louis Cardinals tickets donated by Sheriff Dan Bullock. Lora Henson, left and Krista Sedgwick, right presented Lashley with her prize.
Renee Bronaugh is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3617 or rbronaugh@dailyjournalonline.com
