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It was the perfect day at ɫ��TV (GGC) for an Easter egg hunt. GGC’s Grizzly Organization for Human Services (GOHS) and the Chi Phi fraternity teamed up to give children from the Special Needs School of Gwinnett (SNS) the joy of an Easter egg hunt last Friday.

Raegan Smith-Walker, ’28, a GGC student studying for her bachelor’s degree in human services and president of GOHS, said the event was especially meaningful to her.

“I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 10, so I understand the importance for special needs children to be heard and seen,” she said. “They should have the same opportunities to experience things like an Easter egg hunt as other children do.”

For GGC student and Chi Phi fraternity treasurer Santiago Atuesta, ’25, who is studying business administration with a finance concentration, the event was rewarding.

“It was a lot of fun helping kids decorate eggs and build their own foam chick,” he said. “Being there so the kids could have an Easter egg hunt, play and be themselves made me happy.”

And what fun they had! Children ages 3-12 from SNS spent a few hours hunting for eggs, playing games, doing arts and crafts, and meeting the Easter Bunny.

“This is our first time at GGC, and we are so impressed with the warm welcome we received here,” said Christina Ball, an enrichment teacher at SNS. “I’m impressed with the compassion and engagement displayed by the GGC students. To see so many here to help our children enjoy themselves, there are no words.”

SNS provides educational and therapeutic programming for toddlers through high school.

For Lawrenceville parent Kristie Stanley, whose children, Vivienne, 11, and Mason, 7, who attend SNS, the event was special.

“A lot of times, kids with special needs are left out of things,” she said. “They’re just like any other kids; they just want to be accepted. Today, I’m just blown away by the GGC students and how they made all of us feel so welcome and included. It shows just how caring GGC students are.”

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