Dontae Allen, owner and operator of Allen Construction and Hauling, heard fellow parents express frustration that there are no activities for their children, and he responded.
Allen, a parent and coach of several athletic teams, channeled some of his earnings into a community Easter Egg Hunt for any children and families who wanted to attend at Bloch Park. Food, beverages, bouncy houses, a DJ and games were provided for free by Allen.
Parents, his family members, friends and the Selma High School Lady Saints Softball team pitched in to make the event run smoothly and assist in the egg hunt. Five hundred treat-filled eggs were hidden and found by dozens of children eager to find the golden egg.
Horseback rides were offered to children and adults as the afternoon was filled with laughter, play, exercise and nourishment.
“A lot of parents of young children expressed concern for activities for their children for Easter, so I decided this would be something fun and safe to do,” Allen said. “This is my first venture into something like this, but I plan on continuing other events to give back.”
Parents and children expressed their appreciation for a great day of family, fun and community bonding. Parents and other adults mingled and monitored the activity of the children at Bloch Park during the event.
“It’s great when people of the community – complete strangers – can come together for a common good and love our children and connect with each other,” said Gloria Williams, a grandparent who attended the affair.
Allen’s mother, Evelyn Gantt, expressed her gratitude to God to see her son come full circle and contribute to society. “It’s just a blessing,” Gantt said. “This makes me feel so proud. We hope that other people can see that when you give back, that makes the community grow and they can do it too.”
Allen’s daughter Kaia stars on the Saints softball team and son Kemari is standout defensive lineman on the football team. Allen has talked with local coaches on establishing a football camp in Selma to offset travel and expenses for players who cannot attend camps away from Selma. He recalled his playing days and the unavailability of camps and skill competitions that lead to recruitment opportunities.
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