Nearly 50 kids and their families, many from Tupper Lake and some even making the trip from neighboring Tri-Lakes communities, turned out to the Family Matters Resource Center — located at the Holy Ghost Parish Center at 40 Marion St. — for a big Easter Egg Hunt.

Family Matters staff members Bethany Cassell and Kristy Conlon, along with a host of volunteers, assisted the Easter Bunny this year. The group spent the last few weeks stuffing several hundred colorful plastic eggs with candy, stickers and other goodies in preparation for the annual event.

“With all of the past years that we’ve done this, we’ve got it down to a science now,” Cassell said.

It took several hours for the organizers to sneakily stash the Easter eggs around the large auditorium before the hunt began. When the children arrived, excitement filled the air. Kids took off in all directions, looking to fill their baskets and collect the rewards.

Jeremiah and Winnie St. Louis smile at the Easter Egg Hunt, which was organized by the Family Matters Resource Center in Tupper Lake and took place on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“I’m just really happy that all of the families were able to come out and enjoy this event with their kids,” Cassell said. “I love seeing the families, I love seeing the kids — and it’s a great way for new folks to get introduced to our programs.”

Conlon added that it was nice to see some families making the trip from surrounding communities, which she said was a testament to Family Matters’ playgroups and other programming events that they hold in Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake. These events bring kids and adults alike together with each other, Conlon said.

“The most rewarding part is just seeing how happy the children are,” she said. “The parents as well, especially as they meet other families. A lot of them are maybe stay-at-home parents and getting to socialize with other adults and seeing their children socialize with other families.”

Conlon said the demands and stresses of being a parent, especially with young children, coupled with living in an area as rural and spread out as the Tri-Lakes region, can make it difficult for kids and families to meet and connect.

Doing so, she said, is not only beneficial for kids’ development, but also provides parents and guardians a support network to rely on. This becomes especially important for sharing parenting experiences, learning from each other and overcoming difficult situations.

Harper DeMarco and Natalie Hudson smile at the Easter Egg Hunt, which was organized by the Family Matters Resource Center in Tupper Lake and took place on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“It brings families together,” Conlon said. “Kids get to meet other children, families get to meet each other and everyone gets to socialize.”

Family Matters is part of the Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country, a non profit agency that offers a variety of programs and services aimed at strengthening families and supporting child care and development. For more information, including a calendar of upcoming events, visit ccccnc.org.

Patty Nichols and Ryker smile at the Easter Egg Hunt, which was organized by the Family Matters Resource Center in Tupper Lake and took place on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Kaden Drayse smiles with his Easter basket at the Easter Egg Hunt, which was organized by the Family Matters Resource Center in Tupper Lake and took place on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Gunner and Aaryn Dukette smile at the Easter Egg Hunt, which was organized by the Family Matters Resource Center in Tupper Lake and took place on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)