WAVERLY TWP. — While enjoying a breakfast of pancakes and sausages, children and parents gave the Easter Bunny a warm welcome as he walked inside the Waverly Comm’s gymnasium with “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” playing in the background.

The bunny sat on a white bench next to sunflowers in the auditorium as children lined up to have their photos taken with him. The bunny’s visit was just part of the activities in store at the annual Bunny Breakfast and Egg Hunt held April 8.

Applewood Acres resident Lovelina Patel, whose 7-year-old twin daughters Mahi and Mishti donned pink bunny ears, woke up at 7 a.m. to attend he event for the first time.

“It’s a wonderful experience,” said Lovelina. “They (Mahi and Mishti) wanted to be here this morning.”

Other first-timers included the Bernard family from South Abington Twp. Parents Dennis and Jenna watched their two sons Joey, 4, and Ethan, 1, color outside the lines on Easter egg drawings.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Dennis said about the event.

“It’s definitely cute,” Jenna said of the event. “We will come back next year.”

Breakfast was served by high school students from Abington Heights and Lackawanna Trail school districts. Lackawanna Trail junior Deena Richmond, a veteran volunteer of the Comm’s family events, served breakfast and assisted the children with the Easter-themed games such as Easter Tic-Tac-Toe.

“I love doing it,” she said. “I love seeing the kids happy and smiling.”

Richmond also volunteers with food and games at Comm Camp, the children’s summer program, and Comm Square, an event in July.

Many other activities, including race painting, took place in the gymnasium. Children had the option of four spring-related designs — an Easter egg, bunny, flower, or a butterfly — for either their face or hand. Kids played egg toss where they attempted to throw plastic eggs inside a glass jar. They also played a basketball-like game by shooting a ball into a flower pot.

The event concluded with two Easter egg hunts inside the Waverly Community House — one in the Scout room for children ages 0-5 and another for children ages 6 and up in the Comm’s library and the Constance Reynolds Belin Room. Kids in the Scout room found eggs placed in easy-to-find spots such as window sills and under tables. The older kids had the challenge of seeking eggs in trickier locations such as in between books on the library’s shelves. Children then placed the eggs inside paper bags, which they decorated during the breakfast.

Six-year-old Cordelia Garrison and her 9-year-old brother Cash divvied up the prizes inside the eggs, which they found under lamps and chairs of the Belin Room. Prizes included candy, stickers, and bracelets.

“It was so awesome,” Cash, who found about 20 eggs, said about the hunt. “We found so many great prizes in the eggs.

Volunteer Tyler Blaum, an Abington Heights senior who has volunteered at the event for two years, helped the older kids look for eggs in the library.

“I think it’s a really fun event,” he said.

The Waverly Comm also put out a donation box for the United Neighborhood Center in Scranton. Non-perishable foods, preferably peanut butter, jelly and cereal, were accepted to donate to the center. Adriane Heine, who volunteers with the students, wants people to know that the Comm is always looking for more volunteers.

“We always need more,” Heine said. “We get them (volunteers) from the National Honor Society. We get them from confirmation classes, but anyone can show up and volunteer.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to call 570-586-8191.

Charley Sweeney, 3, of Clarks Green, plays an Easter egg toss game during the Waverly Community House’s Annual Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt April 8.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ABJ-Comm-Easter-1.jpg.optimal.jpgCharley Sweeney, 3, of Clarks Green, plays an Easter egg toss game during the Waverly Community House’s Annual Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt April 8. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Christopher Kettel, 4, of Dalton, points out the color he wants next, while getting his face painted at the Annual Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt at the Waverly Comm.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ABJ-Comm-Easter-2.jpg.optimal.jpgChristopher Kettel, 4, of Dalton, points out the color he wants next, while getting his face painted at the Annual Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt at the Waverly Comm. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Mahi Mishti, 7, of South Abington Township, picks out a prize after winning one of the carnival-style games offered Saturday morning at the Waverly Comm during the Annual Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ABJ-Comm-Easter-3.jpg.optimal.jpgMahi Mishti, 7, of South Abington Township, picks out a prize after winning one of the carnival-style games offered Saturday morning at the Waverly Comm during the Annual Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Abigail Mickavicz, 1, of Olyphant, had more fun playing with the brightly colored plastic Easter eggs than she did putting them in her basket.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ABJ-Comm-Easter-4.jpg.optimal.jpgAbigail Mickavicz, 1, of Olyphant, had more fun playing with the brightly colored plastic Easter eggs than she did putting them in her basket. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Michael Cottone, 10 months old, of Clarks Summit, models his Sunday best at the Waverly Community House’s Annual Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ABJ-Comm-Easter-5.jpg.optimal.jpgMichael Cottone, 10 months old, of Clarks Summit, models his Sunday best at the Waverly Community House’s Annual Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Vanessa Truan, 1, takes a bite of pancake offered to her by David Truan, of Clarks Summit, during Saturday’s Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Waverly Community House.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ABJ-Comm-Easter-6.jpg.optimal.jpgVanessa Truan, 1, takes a bite of pancake offered to her by David Truan, of Clarks Summit, during Saturday’s Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Waverly Community House. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

After a noble attempt with his plastic fork and knife, Benjamin Bernard, 4, of Saylorsburg, gives up on the cutlery during Saturday morning’s pancake breakfast at the Waverly Community House. The event also included a visit with the Easter bunny, carnival style games, an egg hunt and other children’s activities.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ABJ-Comm-Easter-7.jpg.optimal.jpgAfter a noble attempt with his plastic fork and knife, Benjamin Bernard, 4, of Saylorsburg, gives up on the cutlery during Saturday morning’s pancake breakfast at the Waverly Community House. The event also included a visit with the Easter bunny, carnival style games, an egg hunt and other children’s activities. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal
Annual event features egg toss and visit from Easter Bunny

Ben Freda

For Abington Journal

Reach the Abington Journal newsroom at 570-587-1148 or news@s24528.p831.sites.pressdns.com.