TCCIA planning annual Easter fun

Despite many gatherings being canceled due to COVID-19, including last Easter’s Eggstravaganza, Trout Creek Community Improvement Association (TCCIA) is eager and willing to present the sixth Eggstravaganza this spring.

“We decided that we can safely host this event because it is outdoors,” said Liz Stender, TCCIA chairperson. At noon on Saturday, April 3, the Trout Creek Community Park will be adorned with 6,000 eggs filled with candy and goodies awaiting collection, a scavenger hunt for teenagers, and the Easter Bunny will make an appearance to greet both the young and young at heart.

Stender shared, in comparison to previous years, this year will be slightly “scaled down.” Complying with COVID-19 safety recommendations, food will not be served, crafting stations will not be present and the Easter Bunny photo booth will not be available. Although, Stender encourages attendees to bring picnic lunches if desired and to feel free to take photos with the Easter Bunny as he meanders throughout the park spreading cheer.

In order to pull off a free-of-charge event of such magnitude, TCCIA looks to their personal fundraising events for financial support. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the group was unable to host their largest fundraising event, the Redneck Ball, and with the cancellation of the Huckleberry Festival, they were unable to collect funds from ice cream booth sales. “This year we are going to need community support more than ever to do this for the kids,” acknowledged Stender, who hopes businesses and community members step forward to help.

“We understand people are hesitant [to donate], but we really want to pull this off,” Stender said with optimism. “We have always had wonderful volunteers and support.” With that, TCCIA is asking community members for a helping hand. Donated prizes are appreciated, as are monetary donations, which will go toward purchasing candy, fishing poles and bicycles for a boy and girl in each age group.

Donations will be accepted through March 22 and can be mailed to TCCIA at P.O. Box 1416, Trout Creek, MT 59874. Checks can be made out to TCCIA and monetary donations are tax deductible using tax identification code 81-0508275. Receipts will be provided for each donation as long as a return address is included, stated the nonprofit TCCIA.

An open invite is issued for anyone wanting to help fill 6,000 eggs with individually wrapped candy Wednesday, March 24, at 1 p.m. in the Lakeside Resort conference room. “It takes a small army to put 6,000 eggs out in the field,” Stender said, extending another invite to anyone willing to help spread eggs the morning of the Eggstravaganza.

More information on the Eggstravaganza, donations or TCCIA can be obtained by calling Stender at 827-3226. The TCCIA board is composed of Stender, Debb McNary, Rick Robinson, Jennifer Thrash and Jim Bittinger. The board has two vacancies they are looking to fill.

TCCIA stated, “Living in a small town of under 300 residents, fundraising can be challenging, but we are thrilled to be hosting this event for our community.” Stender added, “Rain, sleet or snow, the event will go on!”