Niles Easter Egg Hunt Honors Those Lost to Mental Illness

Annual event provides community support and remembrance for suicide victims and their families.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:19pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of children searching for Easter eggs in a park, with soft pools of warm color and light representing the emotional weight of the event's purpose.A community Easter egg hunt becomes a poignant memorial for those lost to mental illness and suicide.Niles Today

Around 100 people gathered in Niles, Ohio for an early Easter egg hunt that also served as a memorial event to honor loved ones lost to suicide and mental illness. The 'Hunt for Hope' event, organized by Angel King, featured an Easter egg hunt as well as activities for attendees to write messages and share stories about those they've lost.

Why it matters

The Hunt for Hope event aims to raise awareness about mental health issues and provide a supportive community for those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide or mental illness. By combining a traditional Easter celebration with a remembrance ceremony, the organizers hope to destigmatize conversations around mental health and offer resources for grief counseling and therapy.

The details

The free event took place at Waddell Park in Niles, with around 100 people in attendance. In addition to the Easter egg hunt, the event featured activities where attendees could write messages and share stories about their loved ones lost to suicide and mental illness. The non-profit organization Grief and Loss in Motion also attended to provide information on grief counseling and therapy services.

  • The Hunt for Hope event was held on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The players

Angel King

The organizer of the Hunt for Hope event, which she started last year to honor people's loved ones lost to suicide and mental illness.

Grief and Loss in Motion

A mental health non-profit organization that attended the event to provide information on grief counseling and therapy services.

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What they’re saying

“I love watching people interact with others and include those loved ones. Tell their stories, know that they're not alone. We're here to help if they need it. We just want everyone to stay one more day.”

— Angel King, Event Organizer

The takeaway

Events like the Hunt for Hope provide a meaningful way for communities to come together, remember those lost to mental illness, and offer support and resources to those grieving. By destigmatizing conversations around mental health, these gatherings can help promote greater understanding and compassion.