Easter egg hunt : Lions club puts on event for all children

PARKERSBURG -- The Parkersburg Lions Club hosted an Easter egg hunt for visually impaired and blind children on Sunday at Parkersburg City Park.

Though the easter egg hunt is for all children, the hunt was altered so children with visual disabilities are able to participate.

Adults stand in a circle with a basket of eggs; these adults also hold a larger plastic egg that emits a sound the children use to find the adults and the eggs. The hunt lasts 15 to 20 minutes until all the eggs are "found."

One of the children participating this year was Josiah Szostek, age 11, who has cortical visual impairment. His mother described the impairment as Josiah's brain having trouble interpreting what he is seeing. His mother noted this was the first time they had come to the egg hunt, and they are planning on coming again next year.

Shannon Goff and her son, Lennix Goff, age four, also attended the Easter egg hunt.

"This is amazing," said Shannon Goff.

"This was fun," added Shannon Goff. "It's kinda hard finding stuff for us to do."

Lennix is completely blind and needed help from his mother to get to the eggs.

President of the Lions Club Vincent Post III said the egg hunt usually gets 5-10 kids.

Post noted all children are able to participate; those without visual impairments are blindfolded. Post also said the Lions Club has been putting on this egg hunt for ten years; they originally got the idea from the Bridgeport Lions Club.

Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.