CENTRAL OREGON STRONG: Silver Rail Children’s Fund hosts free pumpkin patch trip for students

TERREBONE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Students from Silver Rail visited a pumpkin patch this week at no cost to their families, giving children an opportunity to participate in a seasonal tradition. The trip was organized by the Silver Rail Children's Fund, a nonprofit established following a shooting incident.

Nicole Ybarrondo founded the Silver Rail Children's Fund within days of the shooting to assist children who survived the event.

“Our kids were there that day and and they didn't deserve that,” Ybarrondo said. “Our kids deserve to be kids. And so that's what Silver Real Children's Fund is for.”

The outing offered relief for families adjusting to disrupted routines following the incident. Liza Schwartz, a Bend-LaPine parent, noted the positive impact of local community efforts during this period.

“The rest of the district is in school and all these kids are just home with their parents, probably driving them a little crazy,” Schwartz said. “So it's just good to have, you know, things that the community is doing to help mitigate. Anytime you see smiles on kids faces, it's a great thing.”

Organizers emphasized the importance of creating supportive environments for students. Logan Howell, president of the Silver Rail Children's Fund, highlighted how children navigate traumatic events differently than adults.

“Children process things differently from adults and they really just need some form of normalcy in their lives,” Howell said. “And they need to just get to be kids. And when those the pressures of everything going on around them, finding safe spaces that they can just go be themselves and enjoy life while everything is going on around them is very important for their recovery.”

To assist families with ongoing recovery, the organization is working alongside Deschutes Health. Community members seeking to assist the organization can access resources at SilverRailChildrensFund.org.

Supported by Deschutes Health, the fund intends to provide licensed therapists for both parents and children at upcoming events. The Silver Rail Children's Fund plans to support the affected children until they reach age 25.