The Easter Bunny will be getting some help from Freeport Area High School’s cheerleaders this year.

The cheer squad is hosting a fundraising event to spread joy — and Easter eggs — to families within the school district.

Families can order eggs and provide information about their kids’ ages, genders and food allergies.

With that information, Freeport cheerleaders will fill Easter eggs with treats, including candy and small prizes. The day before Easter, the cheer squad will visit those homes, hiding eggs in the yard for kids to find Easter morning.

“I think it’ll be really fun and special for the kids to go outside and see they’ve had the Easter Bunny helpers come visit and hide eggs throughout their yard,” said Christa Bjalobok, secretary of the cheerleading booster association .

Fundraising has been difficult during the covid-19 pandemic, Bjalobok said. Cheerleaders typically host mini-camps for younger students, teaching them cheers and giving them the opportunity to perform on the football field. Covid-19 nixed that fundraising model, so they had to find a creative new approach, she said.

The group is using an electronic payment system to keep the process contactless, said Jennifer Anderson, president of the booster association.

The cheerleaders are eager for a team fundraising effort.

“They are beyond excited,” she said. “They’re really excited to get together and to be a squad. This is one thing they can do that’s helping the community, inspiring togetherness again.”

The team consists of 23 cheerleaders and a mascot, Anderson said.

Anderson’s daughter, Jerin, is a team captain. Anderson said her daughter is excited not only to spend time with her teammates but also to spread joy for Easter.

“She loves children, so doing something to put smiles on kids’ faces was really exciting,” she said.

For the six seniors on the team, this will be the final activity they can do together, said Bjalobok, whose daughter Caitlin is a senior.

“This is just that one last opportunity for the squad to get together and do something as a team and, hopefully, have a little fun with it,” Bjalobok said.

She said some people in the community have offered to donate eggs for families in need.

“We can think of the families that might not necessarily be doing all of these things for their kids, maybe struggling at the moment, and bring a little joy to them,” Bjalobok said.

So far, they’ve accepted orders from about 35 families — totaling roughly 1,500 eggs, she said.

They will continue accepting orders for families within Freeport Area School District until March 20, she said.

Families can order eggs in various increments, with options ranging from 30 eggs for $20 to 100 eggs for $50. People also can pick up eggs — rather than have them hidden in their yard — for a discounted price.

For more information on ordering eggs, contact the booster association at FHSCheerleading Boosters@gmail.com.

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