MANSFIELD — Tears filled Angela Crego’s eyes as she spoke about something she doesn’t often get to see her son experience.

For Crego, that moment came Saturday morning at a sensory-friendly Easter event hosted by Zan’s Mission at First English Lutheran Church.

“He feels included,” she said. “It’s nice to be able to take him somewhere and he can be involved — not overwhelmed or overstimulated.

“He actually wants to be involved.”

Her son even took off his Bluetooth headphones to listen to other children — a small but powerful step.

A space designed for every child

Zan’s Mission welcomed 13 families, totaling 47 attendees, to the event at the church, at 53 Park Ave. West. Seven volunteers and three board members helped bring the morning together.

Inside the main congregation room, children participated in an egg hunt featuring 1,200 eggs, including 16 golden eggs redeemable for prizes. An accessible egg hunt took place in the daycare nursery room.

Organizers intentionally created an environment where children of all abilities could participate comfortably.

It’s nice to be able to take him somewhere and he can be involved — not overwhelmed or overstimulated. He actually wants to be involved.

Angela Crego

“Easter crowds may lead to anxiety for a family to take their child with a disability to church,” Founder of Zan’s Mission, Stevanie Brown, said in a previous interview with Richland Source.

(Photos of families with the Easter bunny at the Zan’s Mission sensory-friendly event. Credit: Juanita Cherry-Hamons, secretary of the Zan’s Mission board.)

To reduce that stress, the event included a calming corner stocked with fidgets and coloring activities for children who needed a break from noise or stimulation.

For many families, the event offered something just as meaningful as the activities — connection.

Monica Swords, who recently moved to the area, said the event helped her family find community.

“It’s been really great to connect with other parents who are in similar situations and just have fun with my kids,” she said.

Malorie Wenzel said her 9-year-old son, who has autism, was able to enjoy the event alongside his sister — something that doesn’t always happen in traditional settings.

Wenzel also volunteered during the event, helping with crafts.

“We’re just very grateful for Zan’s Mission and appreciate everything they do for us,” she said.

More than an egg hunt

Beyond the activities, families received Easter baskets, eggs and take-home kits that shared the resurrection story.

Children could choose between reading the story or watching it on a video.

Brown said the event aimed to do more than celebrate the holiday.

“This is an opportunity to share the resurrection story, have sensory-friendly fun, meet new families in similar situations and connect them to churches where they feel welcomed,” she said.

The church also shared additional resources, including information about local congregations with special needs ministries.

Brown noted the church is community driven and open to helping support many organizations with biblical stories and perspectives for families.

“The pastor introduced the YouTube resource Saddleback Kids to the families if they ever wanted to explore more stories,” she said.

For Brown, the most meaningful part of the day came in moments like Crego’s.

“Meeting new families, seeing kids willing to actively participate and bringing parents to tears with their ability and willingness to engage — that was great,” she said.

She said events like this demonstrate the impact of intentionally creating inclusive spaces.

For families like Crego’s, those moments make all the difference.

(Photos from the Zan’s Mission sensory friendly Easter celebration. Photos provided by Stevanie Brown.)

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