Easter egg hunt in Salt Lake City means more than finding eggs

SALT LAKE CITY — You can always tell where the fun is just by listening.

Whether its music, games, or children laughing, it doesn’t take much to have a good time.

That’s why Yolanda Sarmiento took her four children to Pioneer Park in downtown Salt Lake City Saturday afternoon.

“It’s very important for them so they can enjoy it and be happy,” said Sarmiento.

This is the third straight year she’s been to the Easter banquet in Pioneer Park.

It’s not because she wants to be here, but because she has to… for her children.

“Struggling – like, it’s just hard times on the holidays when you can’t support it and all that,” she said.

Sarmiento has spent the past four months in a homeless shelter with her children.

Without this party, Easter for her kids would’ve been tough without money.

“Right now, we don’t, so we’re kind of like, low,” said Sarmiento.

She’s not alone.

This Easter party was organized by the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake specifically for those who are homeless.

“No matter how much trouble a person gets into, there is hope that if someone wants to do the hard thing, which is face the challenges in their life, they can become the person that they are intended to be,” said Chris Croswhite, the executive director of the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake.

The Easter banquet included a free brunch, free haircuts, and free legal advice.

There was also a booth set up to look for jobs.

However, seeing all the children here, is what really hits you.

“Children break my heart. Because they’re victims. There have been things completely out of their control, either situations with their parents or lack of opportunity or lack of employment that has caused this child to be homeless,” said Croswhite. “It’s about an 80 percent probability that that child will experience homelessness later in their life. But, if we can bring comprehensive services around that family, then that child may never experience homelessness.”

For Sarmiento, time at the shelter worked.

“It helps us out a lot for rebuilding back up instead of struggling,” she said.

Recently, Sarmiento was able to get her own place, not only to store all the Easter eggs her children found during the hunt, but to also give them a chance.

“Graduate from school and not be like this,” said Sarmiento. “That’s what I want for them.”