Members of Delta Sigma Pi and Alpha Phi Omega who plan to hide eggs from local children this weekend will be getting a jump on the Easter Bunny.

The two groups are sponsoring Easter egg hunts tomorrow and Sunday in cooperation with the Second Mile, a non-profit organization that hosts programs to help children in the state.

The first Easter egg hunt -- from 1 to 2:30 tomorrow afternoon in the woods behind the Music Building -- is for local foster children, said Bob Bullotta, director of community service for Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, the event's sponsor.

"Some of these children have experienced traumatic times. So anytime you can see them experience joy is very uplifting," said Katherine Bernecker, program director for the Second Mile. "I know they're looking forward to it. They were very excited to hear about it," she said.

The Second Mile is involved with activities for foster children in nine counties across the state. One program is a television commercial to recruit foster parents featuring Joe Paterno.

Tomorrow's hunt is part of Foster Family Support, a program for local foster children run by the Second Mile, Bernecker said, adding that participants in the egg hunts are usually between the ages of five and 12.

Foster families will meet with Delta Sigma Pi volunteers at Eisenhower Chapel before the hunt, said Bullotta, who has been involved with Second Mile for a year, and plans to dress up as the Easter bunny.

"I think it will be fun because the students in the fraternity are excited to work with the kids," Bulotta said. "When you're up here, you deal with people our age. It will kind of let them relive their childhood."

"It should be exciting. I think the kids will enjoy it too," Mike Printz, a Delta Sigma Pi member, said.

Bernecker said she is pleased with the work Delta Sigma Pi members have done. "I'm really enthusiastic about working with this group. They've organized things from start to finish. We couldn't have had a nicer offer," she said.

The second Easter egg hunt -- from 2 to 4 Sunday afternoon at Sunset Park -- was planned by Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity for children enrolled in the Second Mile's Friend Program.

This is the third year the organization has held the event, which joins Penn State student volunteers with children from Centre and Mifflin counties, Bernecker said.

"They have had so much fun in the past," said Chris Wagner, Alpha Phi Omega assistant service vice president, adding that students in the service fraternity also enjoy the event."It's one of our biggest projects because so many people like it. It's one of the brotherhood's favorites."

"We rely on groups such as Alpha Phi Omega to provide the human hours necessary for this program. We've had a significant amount of support from students," Bernecker said.