Contributed Photo: Participants gather Easter eggs during the second annual Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt last year.
Staff Reports
SAFFORD – The third annual Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the Manor House patio at 415 E. U.S. Highway 70 in Safford on Friday, April 19, starting at 5 p.m.
The event will be hosted by Stormi Norton, who began the event three years ago after seeing her son, Bentley Clonts, 7, struggle at the annual Easter Egg hunt at the Graham County Fairgrounds. Clonts has autism, cerebral palsy, and a chromosomal abnormality which made it difficult for him to participate in the fun of the Easter Egg hunt.
“(It) got me thinking how limiting it is for children with special needs, especially those in wheelchairs,” Norton said. “So, I’ve found a way to accommodate all ages and different type of disabilities to allow them to finally be able to participate in an egg hunt.”
The Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt is a free event where families of children and adults with special needs can come and eat pizza, get an Easter basket, collect eggs, and get entered into a chance to win prizes from a giveaway. Last year, 110 people attended the hunt.
The event is done completely through the generous donations from local businesses, including Freedom Ford, which donated the pizza, Bashas, which donated water, gift baskets, and a gift certificate, Swire Coca Cola, which donated sodas, and the Manor House, which is donating its conference room and patio for the second year in a row.
The hunt would also like to thank the many other businesses who made donations, including Sodalicious, Sonic, La Casita, Casa Mañana, Tony’s Kitchen, Stargazer 5, H&S Feed and Western Wear, JD’s Grill House, Boulevard Glass, Safford Bowl, and more. For more information contact Norton at 928-322-8357.
What: 3rd annual Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Manor House patio 415 E. U.S. Highway 70
When: Friday, April 19, starting at 5 p.m.
Who: All ages welcome for those with special needs and their families
Cost: Free
