As people flocked to Dahlonega’s Yahoola Creek Park Sunday afternoon, the importance of a caring community became clear during the first annual “Ducks Egg Hunt.” 

The Easter event was hosted by Love Kaleb Inc., a nonprofit that parents Amanda and Tommy Duckworth started in honor of their late son, Kaleb Duckworth, to give back to the Lumpkin and Dawson-area community while keeping his memory alive. 

Tommy said he, his wife and the nonprofit wouldn’t have been able to put on such an event by themselves without the help of the dozens of volunteers who attended. 

“We believe now, more than ever, that our community is what means the most,” he said. 

“It’s about getting families out here,” Amanda said, to which he replied, “You’ve got to start with [engaging] families and work out from there. We’re blessed under the circumstances.”

Vehicles ranging from pickup trucks to a semi-tractor to motorcycles made an appearance, driven by people ranging from locals to those from as far away as North Carolina.

What their drivers all had in common was hearing Kaleb’s story and wanting to come out and show support, Amanda said.