Two Sioux Falls businesses are teaming up to support a growing annual Easter egg hunt.

Tara Allen and her Allen Edge Real Estate Team, which is part of Keller Williams Realty, started the event at Bakker Park five years ago.

But to keep growing, she knew she had to bring in community support.

“We draw thousands of people and love being part of their Easter weekend, but we realized we couldn’t keep it up alone,” Allen said.

That’s where Lewis Drug stepped in.

The store, which will open a location near the west-side park next year, is partnering with Allen to put on the hunt. Lewis is donating enough candy to fill 8,000 plastic eggs as well as raffle prizes and operational support.

A sampling of prizes from Lewis for the Allen Edge Easter egg hunt.

“We’re happy to help bring this fun and memorable event to even more families this year,” said Nikki Griffin, corporate vice president at Lewis.

Lewis marks its 75^th anniversary this year, and the egg hunt provides an extra way to celebrate, she added.

The Sioux Falls-based retailer has more than 50 locations and other sites in development, including a store planned for 2018 near 41st Street and Ellis Road, not far from Bakker Park.

“We’re excited to become part of this west-side neighborhood but also hope this year’s egg hunt draws lots of visitors from all parts of Sioux Falls and beyond,” Griffin said.

The hunt starts at 1 p.m. April 15.

Before that, though, even more helping hands are needed. Residents at the Inn on Westport have been hard at work filling eggs with candy.

Here’s a fun look at them at work.

“It clearly takes a community to pull off an event like this!” Allen said. “We couldn’t be more grateful to our senior volunteers and our new partners at Lewis.”

The egg hunt is free, and the Easter Bunny also is expected to make an appearance. Bring a bag of canned items for Feeding South Dakota and be entered into a special drawing.

To sign up for egg hunt updates on Facebook, click here.