Easter Bunny Visits Kids at Valley Shelter

Four-year-old Colton Greenwood couldn’t wait to meet the Easter bunny Friday.

Colton and his parents were first in line to greet the rabbit that visited the Trudy and Norman Louis Valley Shelter in North Hollywood.

“I love making the kids happy and bringing a smile to their faces,” said the 5 1/2-foot hare--actually a volunteer named Corey Ford--who brought a little Easter cheer to children at the shelter.

Colton was among 65 children who received a basket filled with candy, toys and a coloring book from the bunny. Meanwhile, his father, Steven Greenwood, a resident at the shelter, photographed the moment.

The Easter rabbit also handed out baskets at the Children’s Institute International and the Chernow House in Los Angeles as part of the fourth annual Spring Project, coordinated by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the AFL-CIO Community Services Program, said Donaji Rodriguez, children’s program coordinator at the Valley Shelter.

During a two-day period ending Friday, the two nonprofit organizations teamed up to deliver 2,500 Easter baskets to children living in homeless and abuse shelters in the San Fernando Valley, greater Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Pedro, Whittier, Norwalk and El Monte, said Charee Gipson, communications associate for the United Way.

“The children, they love it,” Rodriguez said. “When they see the Easter bunny, it’s very real to them.”

The candy, toys and other items were donated by AFL-CIO members, who along with other volunteers put together the baskets, said Armando Olivas, director of the AFL-CIO Community Services Program.