SNOHOMISH — The Easter bunny didn’t forget to make a stop at The Farm.
The Snohomish ministry Thursday received an estimated $10,000 in unsolicited donations from three local Wal-Mart stores.
The toys, candy and Easter baskets will go toward hundreds of down-on-their-luck families invited to a party at The Farm on Sunday.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Patrice Wilkins, a volunteer at The Farm. “I just started crying. People went the extra mile for us.”
Each year, The Farm buses in more than 400 people from homeless shelters in three counties for elaborate Easter and Christmas celebrations. The Farm’s founder, Bruce Karr, said it’s the only time many of the children get to be just kids.
Volunteers spend months trying to drum up enough donations so homeless families can have new clothes, coats, haircuts, toys and other goodies. Wilkins was at Wal-Mart on Thursday ready to use a $100 gift certificate for The Farm, when a manager approached her.
“He sort of stared into space and then said, ‘I’m trying to come up with an idea. I’m not sure if it will work and I don’t want to tell you yet,’ ” Wilkins said.
Thursday, he called her back. When she arrived at the store at 164th Street SW between Lynnwood and Mill Creek, she found carts loaded down with donated items. By Friday, a store in south Everett and another in Federal Way had joined in, too.
Wilkins said The Farm relies on donations from local businesses and help from volunteers. Another two dozen local retailers also donated supplies and time for the Easter celebration, including the school buses that pick up families.
If people want to come Sunday and help at The Farm, they should call her at 425-772-1387.
Karr, who has been fighting cancer for months and undergoing chemotherapy treatments, said Friday his cancer counts are down. He’s eager for the Sunday celebration.
“The medical community says it’s impossible for me to get better, but it’s possible with God,” he said. “It’s amazing and I feel blessed to be a part of this.”
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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