Egg My Yard equal parts fun and altruistic

By ADIA REYNOLDS

Tiger Media Nework

This year, it won’t just be the easter bunny hiding eggs, but college students as well. Egg My Yard is a fundraising campaign designed to bring magic to the holiday while also raising money for students in the FHSU Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Since 2021, NSSLHA students and faculty have hidden eggs at the houses of any and all willing to participate. 

Tara Marshall, a lecturer in the FHSU Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders, has been coordinating the fundraiser since its inception and Willow Ludwig, a graduate student in the department, has assisted during her time at FHSU as well. 

“Families can sign up to have a certain number of pre-filled plastic eggs hidden in their yards either on Easter morning or during one of the two weekends leading up to Easter,” Ludwig said. 

The team behind Egg My Yard is comprehensive in its inclusivity as well. They provide options for allergen-free eggs when you sign up, as well as completing all the manual labor themselves. 

“It’s a fun and easy way to make the holiday special,” Ludwig said. “The team takes care of everything from stuffing the eggs to hiding them, so kids wake up to a festive egg hunt, just like magic.”

Marshall adds that Egg My Yard isn’t limited to children, or even Hays residents. Long-distance relatives of college students are encouraged to sign up their students to ‘get egged.’ Parents, grandparents, and anyone interested can sign up to egg the yard of someone special to them, knowing their money is funneling into a good cause while they do so. 

“It brings a little extra magic to families’ Easter celebrations while making the holiday easier for busy parents,” Ludwig said. “Plus, it gives our organization a way to interact with the community positively and joyfully. It’s a win-win: we get to raise funds for professional development, and families get a fun, stress-free Easter surprise.” 

Marshall describes the history of Egg My Yard, and how it transitioned from one nonprofit to another. 

“We started this in March/April of 2021. Previously, the Relay for Life had been doing this for many years. However, they were in a state of transition with some of their members and their ability to coordinate this fundraiser,” Marshall said. “They were gracious to work with us on donating some of the eggs they had stored over the years.”

Now, funds gathered through this event funnel into the NSSLHA for students to attend state and national conferences in the field of communication disorders where according to Marshall, students make career-field connections to last a lifetime.

“A majority of our graduate students are presenting research at both conferences. They are also able to attend a variety of sessions based on their interests, such as school vs. healthcare, etc.,” she said. “Students are able to network with professionals across the state and nation, allowing them to establish contacts that may lead to future employment.” 

Marshall has been involved in the NSSLHA both as a student and a faculty advisor and attests to the organization’s impact on the field of speech and language pathology.

Egg My Yard is a unique way to spend Easter in a way that directly feeds into the betterment of students’ futures. 

“I got involved because I loved the idea of combining community service with professional growth,” Ludwig said. “My favorite part has been hearing how excited the kids are when they find the eggs. It’s really rewarding to know that something small we do can make someone’s holiday feel extra special.”