Over 2,000 goodie-filled plastic eggs were hunted as part of the Egg Hunt put on by the 34th St. Neighborhood Partnership, with help from The Renegade Optimist Club and Bakersfield College Psychology Club. The event was held on April 4 at Stella Hills Elementary School and started at 9 a.m.

Dick Taylor, president of the 34th St. Neighborhood Partnership, said that the event was held at Stella Hills because it is one of two schools within the organization’s boundaries. The other school in the boundaries is Longfellow Elementary School, whose students were also invited to the egg hunt.

“Our goal is to empower kids and their families to improve their lives,” said Taylor.

The eggs were bought by the Optimist Club and Psychology Club. The clubs spent March 25 and 26 packing the eggs with assorted goodies, including chocolate candies, Tootsie Rolls and Smarties.

The Renegade Optimist Club adviser and chemistry professor, Julie Lowe, described the event as “more of an Easter Egg run than a hunt” because the eggs weren’t really hidden, but more scattered throughout the field in front of the school parking lot.

Jessica Wendrick, a BC child development and psychology major, helped pack eggs and helped at the Egg Hunt. She is a member of both participating BC clubs and said her favorite part of the hunt was watching the kids enjoy the eggs that they found.

“I’m participating today because I enjoy helping kids,” Wendrick said. “I want to go into helping kids as a child psychologist. I love kids.”

In addition to eggs, the hunt also offered information at a resource fair from groups including the Child Guidance Clinic, the Kern County Sheriff Office and BCSP School Readiness.

Although this year’s egg hunt did not draw as many as people as last year’s, Lowe was not discouraged.

“There are fewer kids this year. You’d think with the economy that there would be more,” Lowe said.

“But fewer kids means more eggs in their baskets!”