AUSTINTOWN — Following the lead of Hubbard, the Easter Bunny visited Austintown on Wednesday morning, escorted by a police cruiser and a firetruck.

Mandy Maloney Richmond, who organized the event, said she hoped seeing the Easter Bunny would bring back some sense of normalcy for kids during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The traditions have all been canceled,” Maloney Richmond said. “Hopefully this brings some tradition back. There’s nothing going on in Austintown — or anywhere — so everyone is really looking forward to this.”

Children gathered at the end of their driveways and waited to see the Easter Bunny, who waved to them from the back of a pickup truck. Austintown police officer Joe Wojciak led the way, with fire battalion Chief Tom O’Hara and firefighter Mike Hebebrand bringing up the rear in a firetruck.

Charlotte Ward, 10, said she was excited to see the Easter Bunny.

“Basically, there has been nothing going on, so I heard about this and I said, I’m going outside to see that bunny,” Charlotte said.

Maloney Richmond said after seeing the event in other communities, she wanted to bring it to Austintown, where she lives and operates her photography studio, Images by Mandy.

“When I saw Hubbard was doing this, I said we need to get in on this,” Maloney Richmond said. “I’ve known the Easter Bunny for a long time and I was able to text him.”

Police planned out a route for Maloney Richmond and the bunny, aiming to hit as many neighborhoods as possible. The route ended at the Austintown Fitch High School student parking lot, where families who lived on roads too busy for the Easter Bunny to travel could wave to him from their cars.

Austintown police officer Tom Collins, who organized the police end of the event, said police have a good feel for the neighborhoods.

“We have officers that work in the schools and know where the kids are,” Collins said.

Maloney Richmond said her studio usually celebrates Easter every year, but because of COVID-19, all events had to be canceled.

The Easter Bunny and Malone Richmond will be making an appearance in Canfield, starting at noon on Saturday.

avugrincic@tribtoday.com