Killeen easter egg hunt provides a space for special needs community

KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - The Heart of Gold Adult Daycare wants to make sure all people feel included this Easter. On Sunday the Killeen business hosted an easter egg hunt designed specifically for children and adults with special needs.

People of all ages ran as fast as they could to catch as many eggs as they could at the Killeen Community Park. Some of the eggs even had a special surprise inside.

”Some eggs might have like $10, others might have $20, big eggs might have $30 or $50, it just all depends,” Donnetta Bills, Heart of Gold Adult Daycare owner, said.

Adults like 24-year-old Jason Maldonado attended. His mom, Christina Maldonado, said he struggled with the transition out of high school.

”It was tough on him at first to not have a routine like what he was used to with school,” Christina said.

But going to adult daycare and being invited to events like this is making a difference.

”So having the community within the daycare was really helpful and helped him with everything really,” Christina said.

Brandy Portis is the mother of a 7-year-old with special needs and she said the needs of special needs kids aren’t always considered at other events.

”Last year we went to another event up there and it was just regular, not for special needs,” Portis said. “My daughter only got 2 eggs and they fell out of her basket and another kid took them.”

It’s a brand-new event to make sure all are welcome.

”I wanted to get the community together to let them know that we are stronger together than separate,” Bills said.