Carbondale Easter parade, egg hunt draws hundreds, brings families together

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – A parade, the Easter bunny, an Easter egg hunt, and add on top of that beautiful weather, and that’s a recipe for fun at Prairie Living assisted living facility in Carbondale. 

Prairie Living CEO Gary Hill was the Easter bunny’s chauffeur during the parade. 

“He was pretty rowdy back there, but he took the ride pretty well in my convertible, and once we got here, he was just mobbed by kids and [took] pictures,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun.” 

Nicholas Hill, Gary’s son and director of operations at Prairie Living, said there were around 40 cars in the third edition of the parade, which doubles the number from the first year. 

And with as many Easter eggs as were scattered across the facility’s lawn, it still may not have been enough. 

“We didn’t really know what to expect with the egg hunt,” he said. “We were anticipating maybe 30 kids, and we got well over that. We had over a thousand eggs out here, so it’s amazing to see just how quickly they disappeared.” 

The Hills said, more than anything else, this event and Prairie Living as a whole revolve around one 6-letter word. 

“Any time we can get families out to hang out with our residents, it’s a big deal,” Nicholas Hill said.

“Daily, we care for the folks here that need a little support but treat them like family, and I think they’re happier, I think they’re healthier,” Gary Hill said. “I think they have more longevity, and that’s been my goal.”