During a time when everything is affected by the COVID-19 virus, the first ever "Epic Easter Bunny Skook Tour" focused on bringing some cheer and normalcy for the holiday weekend around Schuylkill County.
The tour began as an idea by the members of Dustin's Adventureland, Jim Womer and Jeffrey Dunkel, as a way to have the Easter Bunny deliver lunches to the students in five Schuylkill County municipalities they have been feeding since schools closed for coronavirus concerns.
Once word got out that the Easter Bunny was in the county, everyone wanted a visit and the "Skook Tour" began!
In all, the Easter Bunny ended up visiting 12 municipalities across Friday and Saturday. Those municipalities included Palo Alto, Port Carbon, Saint Clair, Pottsville, Mount Carbon, Girardville, Ashland, Fountain Springs/Butler Township, Minersville, Mahanoy City, and the Shenandoah Manor Nursing Facility.
For each municipality, the routes were all sponsored by local businesses that included Tony's Restaurant (Pottsville), Saint Patrick's Kitchen, Shenandoah Manor Nursing Center, Altamont Fire Company, McDonald's Lunch (Girardville), Womer Landscaping, Uncle Dunkel Rentals, Humane Fire Company (Mahanoy City), and Skook News.
Organizers were faced with one problem, social distancing. During each parade, families were asked to stay on their porches as the Easter Bunny traveled through each borough on a fire truck or Womer's 1965 Buick Wildcat Convertible.
Hundreds of children and adults gathered on their porches in excitement and waved as the Easter Bunny passed by.
On Friday, the Easter Bunny delivered some smiles at the Shenandoah Manor Nursing Center in Shenandoah to wave to residents from the outside through their window and also dropped off cards and drawings from children wishing them a Happy Easter.
On Friday, the Easter Bunny delivered some smiles at the Shenandoah Manor Nursing Center in Shenandoah to wave to residents from the outside through their window and also dropped off cards and drawings from children wishing them a Happy Easter.
There is already talk of making this an annual event and adding more Schuylkill County communities next year.
Dunkel said "Thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors, and first responders for assisting us with making it all possible. We tried to cover as much ground as we could in a small amount of time. Starting Monday, we will begin planning the 2nd Annual Epic Easter Bunny Skook Tour and it will be bigger and better. On behalf of Dustin's Adventureland, we hope everyone has a very Happy and Healthy Easter"
Dustin's Adventureland is a 501c3 that is working on constructing Schuylkill County's first ever playground for children with special needs. The group was also organizing the 2nd Annual Dustin's Special Egg Hunt which is Schuylkill County only egg hunt that was developed for children with special needs.
To learn more about the organization, follow
https://www.facebook.com/Dustins-Adventureland-109933417211885/
Photos/Videos/Story by J. Reed unless otherwise noted
Photos/Videos/Story by J. Reed unless otherwise noted
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| Photo Courtesy of the Shenandoah Manor Nursing Center |
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| Photo Courtesy of the Shenandoah Manor Nursing Center |
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| Photo Courtesy of the Shenandoah Manor Nursing Center |
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| Photo Courtesy of the Shenandoah Manor Nursing Center |
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| Photo Courtesy of the Shenandoah Manor Nursing Center |
