Hundreds of small children canvassed Mound Park in Portsmouth Saturday, scooping up as many plastic Easter eggs as they could find during the annual Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt.

“What we do is go and get donations from businesses to buy candy and we give the children of town a good day,” Jonathan Boggs, of the Jaycees, said.

Boggs said there were about 2,000 colorful, plastic eggs hidden all around Mound Park Saturday morning, waiting for the hunt to begin at noon. Each egg was stuffed with candies and treats for little hands to find.

“After they’re done hunting their eggs, they’re going to bring them back and they’re going to get one of these cups that we got donated from Cash Express,” Boggs said.

Inside the cups were more candies and a small activities book. Then kids turned in the raffle tickets they were handed at the start of the hunt for a chance to win three larger Easter baskets, with even more candy and toys wrapped inside.

“I’m glad we had such a big turnout, and I hope we have an even bigger one next year,” Boggs said.

According to its Web site, Jaycees is a community organization in which local youths learn leadership skills by participating in community service events. In addition to the Easter Egg Hunt, Jaycees also hosts the Halloween Haunted House, Christmas Parade and Trout Derby (coming later this month).

“We do it for the fun of being out in the community, and being good to them because they’re always good to us,” Boggs said.

More information about the Portsmouth Area Jaycees can be found on its Web site at www.portsmouthareajaycees.org.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235, or e-mail rottney@heartlandpublications.

com.