Two mothers of special needs children are coordinating an event other special needs families can enjoy this Easter. Rhonda Stamey and Athena Harkins are organizing an Easter egg hunt for developmentally and physically challenged children and adults.
Stamey is someone well-known to the local special needs community. She’s spent years coordinating events – even a baseball league – so that her developmentally delayed son and others may more fully participate in and celebrate life. Together, she and Harkins organize parties at Christmas and trunk-or-treating at Halloween. Now, they’re adding Easter to the list.
“This is a first, so we are just doing the egg hunt to see how participation is,” says Stamey.
The egg hunt at Hillside Baptist Church in Cornelia this weekend is open to all special needs families. As with previous events, there is no age limit.
“It will take place on a fenced-in playground at the church unless it rains. If that happens, we will do it in the fellowship hall,” Stamey says.
Generous donors from throughout the community have donated candy and prizes, enough to fill over 400 eggs and hand out surprise gifts to each participant.
‘A true family event’
This weekend’s egg hunt is a true family event, organizers say. Siblings may join in the hunt.
“This is a great event because it gives a chance for all the special needs families to hunt eggs without a huge crowd, and we will have volunteers to help assist those who need help hunting,” Stamey says. “There is no age cut off, so special needs adults like my own son, who is 21 with the development level of a 3-year-old, can hunt and face no judgments for being there.”
“They should get the chance to enjoy the holidays just like other kids but around kids like them – kids that understand them, that want to play with them, that want to be around them,” adds Harkins, whose 14-year-old son, Dennis, is autistic.
Harkins says these specially organized events are less stressful on families and provide a meaningful social outlet.
“You can feel isolated and alone sometimes living with a special needs family member; you can’t do what other families can do, sometimes,” she says. “[At these events] we can associate with other parents who live the way we do. It’s freeing. It’s worth it.”
The Easter Egg Hunt for Special Needs Families at Hillside Baptist Church begins at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 1. The event is open to all special needs families, regardless of where they live. The church is located at 324 level Grove Road, Cornelia, GA.
For more information, call Rhonda at 706-949-9775.
Click here for more Easter egg hunts in Northeast GA.
