Every year on the Saturday before Easter Sunday, the Kiwanis Club of Rogue River, Ore., sponsors an Easter egg hunt. This group consists of no more than a dozen active members, but every year they take on a number of projects and causes in support of their community. The Easter celebration doesn’t serve as a fundraiser for those activities but does provide a much appreciated and anticipated event for local families.

Most of the Kiwanians are small-business owners with a host of professional and personal demands on their time, but over the past few days they’ve spent hours hard-boiling and dyeing 150 dozen (that’s right!) eggs to be spread out over the middle school’s football field in the center of town. This morning they’ll arrive bright and early to nestle the eggs into the long, unmown grass; they’ll open up the refreshment stand, brew up hot chocolate for the kids and coffee for the grownups, and set out platters of doughnuts. No charge for these, but cups are set out for those who’d like to donate a little cash in support of some of the group’s other projects (Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, high school scholarships, clothing and supplies for younger students, community center meals, the local library, to name just a few).

As the hour approaches for the start of the egg hunt, youngsters with pastel-colored Easter baskets in hand — and parents and grandparents in tow — line up behind a yellow rope stretched along the sidelines. One section is set aside for the 5-and-under set, where each child may be accompanied by an adult to aid in the recovery of the eggs, while the older kids are turned loose on the rest of the field. Once the rope is dropped, every egg is scooped up within about 10 minutes, and those lucky enough to find one of 10 plastic eggs redeem them for a basket generously filled with toys and candy. Soon the crowd disperses, families heading off to the rest of their holiday weekend activities. But the goodwill and positive memories this event engender will linger long after this morning’s fun, and that’s one of the things I love about small-town life.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor