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The Community Bank and Trust team was committed to making its Easter egg hunt event happen this past weekend, and prepared to brave the rain with tents, plastic rain ponchos, rubber boots and rain gear.

“We knew the weather was going to play a role, but we had faith, stuck to the course, and it worked out,” CB&T President & CEO Steve Jefferies, said.

The Community Bank Team set up mostly in the rain early Saturday morning, but before the start of the event the sky cleared and the sun came out. Attendance for the event was estimated at over 1,500 people for the inaugural hunt with people driving in from as far as Atlanta.

DJ Bootz kicked off the first track and the party began. Locals started pouring into Southbend Park in LaGrange as early as 10:30 a.m. to secure their spot in line. Face painting, balloon animals, CB&T build-a-bunny, cotton candy, the bounce houses all had lines and kids smiling and screaming for joy.

“We couldn’t be happier with the turnout. The weather had us concerned, but we are so proud of our wonderful staff who came out to volunteer and thankful for the great community of LaGrange and the true magical day,” Bill Stump, director of Community Banking / Community Bank and Trust, said.

Over 20,000 candy and toy stuffed eggs were placed in three different areas.

With $2,000 in different denominations hidden in various eggs, the kids took the egg hunt super seriously with one child even stating she was going to take mama to dinner with her findings.

The four and under group picked every egg in their area in under five minutes.

The wave of 5-7 year-olds picked every egg in two minutes and the 8-10-year-olds had every egg picked up within one minute and ten seconds and just like that all of the 20,000 eggs were in children’s Easter baskets.

“It was incredible how fast the kids had those eggs picked up,” Jefferies said. “It was truly a spectacle to watch and I was so proud of our Community Bank and Trust Team. I think we are going to need more space and more eggs next year. I can’t wait for the next one.”

The event ran from 11am-1pm and was free to the public with a recommended three-dollar donation to Toys For Tots, LaGrange. Organizers are still counting the donations from the event. The Community Bank and Trust Easter Egg Hunt is planned for 2023.

Community Bank and Trust is the “Go To” local community bank with branches in LaGrange, Hogansville and Columbus.

For more information on the Community Bank & Trust and upcoming events go to their website at www.redapplebank.com.