Easter Bunny at Spring Fling

By Laurie Gordon
NEWTON - Adriana Dichiara, of Hopatcong, wasn't too keen on holding Charlie, a constrictor snake visiting Project Self-Sufficiency's Spring Fling on Thursday. She was, however, thrilled to not only meet Winter, the goat, but to give him his bottle.
Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, and The Sussex County Family Success Center collaborated to present Spring Fling, and participants were treated to crafts, dinner, an Easter egg hunt, photos with the Easter Bunny, face-painting, games, and other activities courtesy of agency staff members and a host of community volunteers. A visit from Lori Space Day of Space Farms added to the excitement of the event for children who met Charlie, Winter, turtles.
“This used to be called the Eggstravaganza,” said Haley McCracken, Project Self-Sufficiency's Program Coordinator. “Having just the egg hunt was great, but we wanted to expand it to make it a true family event.”
“Providing safe, family-friendly activities is one of the goals of the Family Success Center, and we are very grateful to Space Farms, as well as the Family Success Center Parent Advisory Board and the volunteers from the Sussex County Council for Young Children who worked so hard to host this celebration for our participants and their families,” said Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.
Adriana agreed.
“I'm having fun and it's great to meet a goat,” she said.
“I love coming to events at Project Self-Sufficiency,” Space Day said. “The children love meeting the animals. I'm a 'grandma wanna-be, so while the kids enjoy the animals, I enjoy the parade of children.”
The Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency is a program of support in parenting skills training, economic self-sufficiency services, family activities, legal education services, information about health and nutrition, referrals, advocacy and other services. All activities are free and open to the public.
Project Sussex Kids, the Sussex County Council for Young Children, has been designed by the New Jersey Department of Children & Families to address the needs of local families who are expecting or who are parenting young children.
County Councils for Young Children have been established in all of the state’s 21 counties to bring together parents, caregivers, as well as health, education and social service professionals to enhance communication, coordination and collaboration of services.
Families enjoyed various activities and pizza from Villa Capri as part of the evening.
Additional information is available at www.projectsussexkids.org. For information about the Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency, or to find out more about the other programs and services available at the agency, call 973-940-3500 or 844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.