- December 5, 2025
Teigan Sanchez hangs out with the Easter bunny before the Easter egg hunt at the Tomoka United Methodist Church. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volunteer Debbie Stinson serves cookies to the Easter egg hunters. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seraphina Adams and her mom Celeste Borden-Price stop by the coloring table before the Easter egg hunt begins. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seraphina Adams was named after the six Seraphim angels. Photo by Michele Meyers
Teigan Sanchez. Photo by MicheleMeyers
Teigan Sanchez hangs out with the Easter bunny before the Easter egg hunt at the Tomoka United Methodist Church. Photo by Michele Meyers
Brian Young sits with the Easter bunny as his mom, Sid Verhees, tries to get her goddaughter Gianna McCall to join them. Photo by Michele Meyers
Gianna McCall walks away as her godfather Calvin Rhett tries to get her to sit with the Easter bunny and Brian Young. Photo by Michele Meyers
Former Volusia County art teacher and creator of Empty Bowls, Marcia Bobbitt, drew an Easter picture for the kids to color at the Tomoka United Methodist Church's Easter event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Easter egg hunters search everywhere for prize eggs at the Tomoka United Methodist Church's event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Easter egg hunters search everywhere for prize eggs at the Tomoka United Methodist Church's event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Easter egg hunters check their baskets after the hunt at the Tomoka United Methodist Church. Photo by Michele Meyers
An Easter egg participant smiles as she keeps her prize eggs from falling out of her basket at the Tomoka United Methodist Church's event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Taylor Akelsen filled her basket with prize eggs at the Tomoka United Methodist Church's event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Payton Bare found a golden ticket in one of her Easter eggs after she and her grandmother had already left the Tomoka United Methodist Church. They returned so Payton could pick out her prize stuffed bunny. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ava Crown poses at the Tomoka United Methodist Church's Easter egg hunt. Photo by Michele Meyers
Uriel Franco helps his two-year-old daughter Ariela at the Tomoka United Methodist Church's Easter egg hunt. Photo by Michele Meyers
Uriel Franco and his daughter Ariela. Photo by Michele Meyers
Henli Lent was excited to try the candy at the Easter egg hunt held at the Tomoka United Methodist Church. Photo by Michele Meyers
Henli Lent. Photo by Michele Meyers
Henli Lent hugs her friend at the Tomoka United Methodist Church's Easter egg hunt. Photo by Michele Meyers
John Marks smiles about his full Easter egg basket at the Tomoka United Methodist Church. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jake Marks hugs JJ who he said was one of the best things about the Easter egg hunt held at the Tomoka United Methodist Church. Photo by Michele Meyers
Event organizer, Linda Neely and about 10 volunteers, stuffed 1800 eggs for the Easter egg hunt at the Tomoka United Methodist Church. Photo by Michele Meyers
Madleyn Bragg. Photo by Michele Meyers
Photo by MicheleMeyers
Eighteen hundred eggs were stuffed prior to the Tomoka United Methodist Church’s Easter party and egg hunt held on Saturday, April 9. This was the return of the annual event after COVID-19 had forced the church administrators to cancel it the past two years.
Children in preschool through fifth grade were invited to color, play games, snack on cookies and hunt prize Easter eggs at the event. The Easter bunny was also available for photo opportunities, a conversation or a quick hug.
Lead pastor John Gill left the church in 2011 to work with the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home where he helped recruit foster families. He was reappointed to the church for the second time in July 2021.
“We were glad to able to get back to this event,” he said. “We have a lot of retired people in our church so it’s fun to see families with kids. At Halloween time, we also do a trunk-or-treat party. These are our two family outreach events we do for the community.”
