MUSCATINE, Iowa — Last year, Muscatine mom Kami Olmstead began celebrating Easter a little differently.

She now looks forward to watching her son participate in a community Easter egg hunt rather than seeing him be left out.

Olmstead’s son, Jonah, who has been diagnosed with autism, would have been trampled at the traditional egg hunts, said Olmstead, so she established a safer activity.

Last spring, she conducted the first special needs Easter egg hunt.

Ten families with more than two dozen children participated in that first effort.

“It was real peaceful,” said Olmstead. “There was no stress, no pressure.”

She was so pleased with the success, Olmstead is organizing another, larger event this year. Her friend, Karen Holladay, whose son Ryan, 9, who is also autistic, is working with her to organize the event.

Holladay and Olmstead already have a head start on the festivities.

Last year, Olmstead received a large donation of  plastic, fillable eggs and prizes from an Iowa City resident who called himself, “Uncle Tom.”

“He read a newspaper article about our hunt last year and wanted to help,” said Olmstead.

Olmstead painted 100 of the eggs gold which will  be redeemed for special prizes.

In many, traditional egg hunts, a small number of gold eggs are hidden and the few children who find them get large prizes such as bicycles or toys.

Olmstead said she wants to make sure all the children get a gold egg and a small prize in her hunt.

“No one will be left out,” said Olmstead.

Olmstead and Holladay are asking for donations of candy and prizes, as well as cash, to fuel the hunt. She said Hy-Vee grocery store, Hy-Vee Drugstore, the Muscatine Journal, Walgreens, Top Dog Enterprises and Dollar General have already contributed.

“People come out of nowhere to help,” said Olmstead. “We’d like to make this an annual event.”

Details

What: Second annual special needs Easter egg hunt for Muscatine children and teens.

When: Noon Saturday, April 11

Where: Mulberry Elementary School, 3211 Mulberry Ave., front and back fields. Parking will be available at the Muscatine School Board office or the front half of the Mulberry School parking lot.

Who: Two hunts will be held at the same time, prekindergarten-12 years of age and another for students 13-18, in the front and back of the school.

Details: Participants are asked to arrive a little early because the event will begin on time. Egg hunters must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times and are asked to bring their own bag or basket.

To R.S.V.P. call Kami Olmstead at 563-571-6613 or Karen Holladay at 563-263-1716

To donate

Donations for candy, cash and other related supplies can be taken to the Muscatine Community School District Administration Center, 2900 Mulberry Ave. 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. During spring break the office will be closed from noon-1 p.m.