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By Odetta Fields and Mark Silverberg
April 2, 2023, was the 3rd Annual Community Yahoos/Southeast Cleveland Resource Center Bunny Hop in Slavic Village. This year it was in collaboration with Gods Vision Foundation at the Southeast Cleveland Resource Center.
In 2021, during COVID, a group of Slavic Village residents started the Bunny Hop so that kids would have a fun and safe activity outside of the house. The Bunny Hop was organized in the same way as the four previous years of successful Trick or Treat on Fleet events.
This year’s Bunny Hop featured tables that lined Fleet Avenue at different businesses and community sites, handing out candy and Easter-themed trinkets to the children. Each child received an Easter basket or bag from Gods Vision Foundation to gather their candy and trinkets. Several costumed Easter Bunnies hopped up and down Fleet Avenue to spread joy and excitement for the children. Gods Vision also organized pictures with the Easter Bunny and families were able to receive digital and print copies of their children’s pictures.
In its first year, 2021, Bunny Hop was a big hit with around 350 children participating. In 2022 the event grew to over 550 participants, and this year they had over 750! They plan for an even bigger event in 2024 with the goal to include over 1,000 neighborhood children.
The organizers would like to thank all of the participants, volunteers, and donors who helped make this wonderful community event happen. A special thanks goes to Third Federal Bank for helping make this year’s event possible.