The Mount Laurel Police Department (MLPD) is partnering with the Mount Laurel Municipal Alliance and Chick-fil-A at Centerton Square for an Easter egg hunt on April 9.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the Laurel House on 564 Walton Ave. and be open to children 12 and under. Kyle Gardner, Public Relations Officer for the Mt. Laurel police, said this year marks the township’s inaugural Easter egg hunt, following pandemic complications that made it difficult to bring the event to fruition in recent years.
“We’ve really had this planned now for about three years, but with COVID and everything, this will actually be the first year we’re having this event,” Gardner said. “(The Mount Laurel police) deputy chief, who’s also in charge of community policing, thought that it would be a good idea to do an Easter egg hunt for the community, especially since it typically gets warmer around this time.”
According to the officer, there will be two separate areas for children, with a smaller designated area for toddlers under 4, and a larger space for older kids. Lilly’s DJ service will provide family friendly entertainment, including scavenger hunts, musical chairs and singing games.
Chick-fil-A will supply snacks for the community. The fast-food chain originally reached out to police late last year seeking a partner for its Shop With a Cop program, but since that program had passed, it decided to partner with police for the Easter event.
Valerie Cruz, marketing director for Chick-fil-A at Centerton Square, said the chain’s mascot will be in attendance supplying treats for families.
“We reached out to the township to see how we could support their planned events for the year, and this one seemed like the perfect partnership,” she said. “We will be (at the Easter egg hunt) with our cow, chocolate chunk cookies and coupons for all of the families.”
Gardner said the department plans to continue the event on an annual basis, and cited its partnerships as key.
“The Mount Laurel Municipal Alliance is a sponsor of the event as well, so between the different organizations’ help, (the Easter egg hunt) should be pretty successful,” he said.
Tickets for the egg hunt are free, but children who would like to participate must sign up by April 1 at eventbrite.com, given limited space for the event.
