Easter in Snohomish for kids facing tough times

Published 11:33 pm Sunday, March 16, 2008

SNOHOMISH — Easter joy came a week early for 150 children whose families are facing hard times.

They found their way to The Farm and a Sunday afternoon of play, goodies and a chance to visit with Hercules the leopard, Stripes the zebra and Bruno the pot-bellied pig.

As children pedaled toy cars and bounced off the floors and walls of five inflatable houses, moms and dads filled large plastic bags with new but slightly damaged clothes that were donated and mended.

“I just thought Easter is just as important as Christmas, at least it is to me,” said Bruce Karr, who owns the four-acre farm that has a Dr. Doolittle feel to it.

When a heart ailment threatened his life 14 years ago, Karr decided he wanted to make a difference with the time he had left. He opened the farm to children in need, inviting youngsters from homeless shelters or who are living with relatives for periodic visits.

“They can’t go to Disneyland because they can’t afford it,” Karr said. “We want to give them a place to go where they can have some fun.”

Over the years, The Farm has welcomed hundreds of children around the Christmas holiday. Sunday was the first Easter celebration, made possible by dozens of volunteers and many donations.

The afternoon was a chance for kids who live in tight quarters and under lots of rules to run amok in the country air. Faces were painted, eggs were hunted, prizes were won and family portraits were taken with the Easter bunny. Youngsters walked around with stuffed animals they won in one arm and cotton candy in the other.

Children from shelters arrived by yellow school buses and buzzed around the grounds with a determination not to miss anything.

Between tummyfuls of treats and nonstop play, they were tuckered.

“They’ll be asleep before we pull out of the parking lot,” predicted Pam Walsh, a case manager with the Everett Gospel Mission’s Women and Children’s Shelter. “It makes them feel important, like someone really cares.”

Susan Harbison spent the day with her son Kaden, 7, who nibbled on popcorn and was game to try anything.

“Kaden has the big smiley dimples going on today,” she said. “This is a wonderful place. I was just astounded by how much fun this has been.”

It wasn’t long ago that Harbison lived at the Mission. On Sunday, she was reunited with several moms she got to know when she was most in need.

She believes she is headed in the right direction as she tries to finish a credential at a community college by September to become an EEG technician. She said she has a job interview this week and that Kaden, who is living with relatives during the school year, will be able to move back to live with her in June.

The mom and son share a dream.

“I am going to get a job and we can move into a house and he can get a dog,” she said as Kaden nodded and smiled.

Amanda Ferrell still lives at the Mission and likes to spend time with her daughter, Shyanne, 6, on weekends.

Sunday was a special time.

“She is just so excited,” she said, while Shyanne frolicked in a bouncy house. “She is having such a great time.”

Hours after the last car pulled out of the parking lot, Karr looked over photos taken of smiling children on the Easter Bunny’s lap.

“If we did anything today, we did something that makes them happy,” he said.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.