The Tampa Bay Area Regional Bomb Squad has traded explosives for Easter eggs to help local children who are blind or visually impaired.

Members of the state Fire Marshal’s office, FBI, ATF, Tampa PD and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s bomb squad have been working together to assemble beeping Easter eggs.



The eggs contain batteries and speakers that will help blind children during egg hunts by leading them to the more traditional eggs.

Members said assembling the eggs actually helps with their training but the real reason they make them is to give back to the community.



"We have the experience in electronics," said explosives enforcement officer Randall Mattson-Laurent. "It's really easy, comes kind of as a natural fit for us to be able to put these together and have the knowledge to put them together."

Mattson-Laurent said the team is happy to put their skills to use for a good cause.

"Most bomb squad members like to be in the background," he said. "They really don't like to be out in the front of things so for us to use our skills to help kids that are not as fortunate as most makes all of us feel good."

The idea originated several years ago with an ATF member who wanted to help his blind daughter enjoy Easter.

"It's a really really good feeling to be able to help these children to enjoy the festivities of Easter," said Sgt. Jarrett Seal from the Tampa Police Department’s Bomb Squad.

The eggs will be used this Saturday at the first ever Lake Alfred Lion’s Club Easter egg hunt for blind children. The hunt starts at 1 p.m. at Lake Alfred Lions Park.



