The only thing brighter than the sunshine radiating down on the Cass County Medical Care Facility courtyard on Friday were the smiles on the faces of the facility’s residents.

On Good Friday the nursing care facility hosted its annual Easter egg hunt, inviting the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of its residents out for an afternoon of fun and excitement. More than a dozen children, from toddlers to young adults, showed up for the festivities.

Organizing this year’s hunt was Diana Masters, the facility’s activity director. She, along with staff and 25 residents, stuffed more than 100 plastic Easter eggs with chocolate candy bars, jellybeans and stickers for the hunt.

“The residents have been preparing for the event all week,” Masters said. “Many hands helped out.”

That afternoon, eggs were hidden throughout the building’s courtyard with plastic prizes stuffed between shrubs, wedged in the branches of small trees or scattered throughout the lawn.

In addition, a pair of craft tables were set up inside to give the children something to do after the hunt ended, with activities that included coloring and Easter egg dyeing. The children were also served homemade cookies and fresh fruit.

“This is a lot of work for something that is over in an hour, but it’s worth it,” Masters said.

Helping Masters out this year was her granddaughter, Kasia Jach, serving as the resident Easter Bunny for the hunt. Jach wore a bunny suit and painted whiskers on her face.

Though she has only been responsible for the event for two years, Masters said the hunt has been going since the late 1970s.

Last year, around 35 to 40 kids showed up for the search, Masters said.

“I was a little bit concerned about the attendance this year because some of the schools had makeup days on Good Friday this year,” she said.

The Cass County Medical Care Facility holds various intergenerational events each year to join together residents and their families to celebrate holidays and other festivities. In November, the facility hosted its annual Thanksgiving dinner, which served 300 residents and guests, Master said.