April 21 , 2022 The Beacon • 27

By Marianne Austin

Coshocton ’ s Fatherhood Initiative hosted an Easter egg hunt for children age 2-11 on April 16 .

The event was divided into three age groups in half-hour segments . The morning began rainy and cold , but the sun came out just in time for families to enjoy the spring flowers on the hillside at Clary Gardens and hunt for eggs .

Hayley Kohen , children Waylon and Christie , and their grandmother attended the event . Hayley Kohen said her son was excited about finding eggs , and he couldn ’ t wait to go on the hunt .

Aaron Heard and son Hendrix were waiting for the egg hunt to start . “ He ’ s going to put his long legs to use ,” Dad said . “ He wants me to run too , but I ’ m not going to do that . I can point them out , though .”

Isaac Bush with Fatherhood Initiative said , “ Our committee members and our volunteers partnered with Jandi Adams from Clary Gardens to host the Easter egg hunt . This is the first one that we have done . We are specifically focused on connecting fathers with their kids , and this opportunity is built for that . It ’ s not just an Easter egg hunt ; its intention is to get fathers and families together . Today is an event for parents to come out and enjoy time with their kids . It ’ s mostly just candy , and the kids are taking an Easter basket home . Candy was donated by Dollar General this year .

“ Our committee members put together the eggs , and Clary Gardens donated lots of eggs . An egg hunt here is a little different than finding eggs out on the grass . It ’ s kind of neat that we are here . The different terrain makes it a fun Easter egg hunt . The kids are really enjoying it . It started out as a rainy day , but the Lord did well for us and gave us a beautiful day — enough to cancel some baseball games but not an Easter egg hunt . I am already excited for next year . There are several neat things I have learned today . The joy is not just in hiding an Easter egg , but it ’ s fun knowing there will be a happy smile on their face when they find it .”

William Johnson and Ed Gallagher are stepping down from their co-chair positions with Fatherhood Initiative , and Noah Gallagher and Isaac Bush will fill in that void .

“ We have 22 committee

Coshocton ’ s Fatherhood Initiative hosted an Easter egg hunt for children age 2-11 on April 16 .

members that volunteer their time to help with events ,” Bush said . “ We do between five and seven events in a

year . The Salvation Army has partnered with us to have office space in their building , and now there is space where

Marianne Austin

people can meet . Committee members have a place where they can meet , and we have a space to store our stuff .”