On Sunday April 2nd the UMSL National Optometric
Student Association (NOSA) hosted an Annual Easter egg hunt for visually
impaired children. The UMSL NOSA chapter was recently awarded the “Chapter of
the Year” at the annual meeting. A great turnout resulted for this event that
was hosted in combination with the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual
Impairments. Delta Gamma Family Support
Services Program Director Debbie Chapuis is particularly appreciative of how
beneficial this program is to these children. “The NOSA egg hunt is much more
than candy-filled eggs or visits with the Easter Bunny. It serves as a reminder
to families that, with a little creativity and some thoughtful adaptations,
children with visual impairments can participate in fun holiday activities,
too. Students’ warmth and enthusiasm adds to the fun of the event and helps to
make it even more memorable for everyone involved. We are grateful for this
partnership and hope that the impact the families make on NOSA students will be
as positive and long-lasting as the impact they make on families at this
wonderful annual event.”
NOSA officers Heather Jackson (’19)(who was a very
active and popular Easter bunny), Lulette Fermil (’19), and Leslie Kinder(’19)
along with many other organization volunteers were there helping the children
enjoy a variety of games and activities highlighted, of course, by the Easter
egg hunt. According to Leslie Kinder the
event was a great success, “We were incredibly lucky the weather gave us a
perfect, sunny spring morning. Volunteers and egg-hunters alike were laughing
and enjoying the chance to be outside. Several local vision impaired and
special needs children gathered on the path along with their parents and
siblings ready to scour the UMSL lawn for candy-filled Easter eggs. Beeping
eggs helped guide those with vision impairments to the hiding spots. After the hunt, the children enjoyed face
painting, crafts, balloon animals, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Everyone
left happy and with full Easter baskets.”
Heather Jackson agreed. “We've
been co-sponsoring this event with the Delta Gamma Center for Children with
Visual Impairments for a few years now and it's really important that we
continue to do so in the future. Most
people don't think about how challenging it must be for a visually impaired
child to participate in activities like these. With our Easter egg hunt, we use
beeping eggs so the children are able to rely on their other senses to find
them. This year's turnout really
exceeded our expectations and all of the kids had a wonderful time!”
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| Our awesome group of NOSA helpers (from left
to right): Natasha Chang (’20), Stevi
Short (’20), Sydni Davis (’20), Lauren Ward (‘20), Leslie Kinder (’19), the Easter Bunny (Heather
Jackson) (’19), Amanda Adkisson (’20), Heather Stern (’20), Kanesha McBee (’17),
and Lulette Fermil (’19) |
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| The turnout of children for this event was
quite large. |
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| Kanesha McBee (’17), helping at her fourth
consecutive NOSA event with Debbie Chapuis, Family Support Services Program
Director for the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairment. |
 |
Leslie Kinder (’19) up close and personal with
the Easter Bunny (Heather Jackson) (’19)
|
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| The welcoming committee for the many children
and their families who came to this event. From left to right: Heather
Stern (’20), Stevi Short (’20), Lauren Ward (’20), and Leslie Kinder (’19). |
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| Helping with face
painting and balloon animals for the children were Amanda Adkisson (’20) and
Lulette Fermil (’19). |
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| One of the many happy children who enjoyed
this event (photo published with permission) |
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