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Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com

2 men honored by Red Cross for work to help others

By Bill Sheets
Herald Writer

The Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross couldn't decide who should win its Adult Humanitarian of the Year award.

The finalists were Bruce Karr, who runs the Farm Ministries of Snohomish for at-risk youth, and Bill Brayer of Edmonds, who heads the MS Helping Hands organization for people with multiple sclerosis.

So the group's awards committee decided to give the honor to both. The awards were given at a breakfast in Lynnwood on Thursday.

"They both have been doing the service for about the same number of years, they both have started nonprofit organizations as a way to get other people involved," said Kay Ashenfelter, development director for the county Red Cross chapter.

The Farm has worked for 13 years with churches, shelters and the courts to provide work and Bible study for at-risk youth. About 75 kids at any one time work on the property, which includes sports fields and courts, play equipment, a theater and a large tent for big events. The group invites underprivileged youth to come and play.

Brayer, who has MS, began MS Helping Hands in the mid-1990s. The group now has 33 volunteers and runs a "donor closet" of free medical equipment for low-income patients with MS and other ailments, a grant fund and two MS support groups.

The Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue organization won the Red Cross' Humanitarians of the Year award. The Youth Humanitarian award went to Sarah Willard and the Hehn family received the Family of Humanitarians award.

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.