Silver linings at Silverwood

The bandits aboard Silverwood Theme Park’s Steam Train No. 7 always wear masks.

This year, the good guys did too.

“One of the things we did on the train to keep everyone protected — and it kind of went with our bandit characters — the bandits, before they boarded the train, they very deliberately would go, 'Masks!'” Marshal Jack said, pulling his bandana up over his face. “Just in character."

It was confusing for some children to see the good marshal with his face covered.

“The little kids would recognize me, and go, ‘Marshal, you’re a robber now?'” he said. “I’d say, ‘I know I have the big scary mask on, but I’m still the marshal,’ and the kids would hear the voice. It’s amazing how the kids would recognize me more by the voice than they do actually seeing me."

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and masks on outlaws and good guys alike, Marshal Jack and his team collected $50,000 from passengers, which Silverwood donated to Children's Village on Wednesday.

"Children’s Village is such a wonderful representation of our community, especially in troubled times like these,” Marshal Jack, played by Chris Tortora, said during the presentation on the grounds of the nonprofit.

"We’re over here fighting to keep places like Children’s Village alive in North Idaho," he said. "If there's a silver lining for all this madness, here in North Idaho, this community in particular, people come together and you can really see just how good people are."

Children's Village serves as a safe haven for kids in crisis, whether it's homelessness, neglect, abuse or other trauma. It provides a safe, loving home for infants and children in need of stability and security.

Children's Village director of charitable giving Vanessa Moos said this gift is amazing because Silverwood is "such a staple in our community."

"All of our kiddos, that’s the American dream, pieces of it, going to enjoy the amusement park in our local community," she said. "To have Silverwood kick back to the kids who don’t have those opportunities, it means the world to us."

To date, Silverwood, owned by Gary and Jeanne Norton, has donated about $970,000 in train money to Children's Village.

Moos said donations like this help keep the doors open and pay for food and the bills to keep these children in warm beds.

"A lot of these kids, it might be their first winter in their own warm bed," she said. "And that’s what that does, it keeps them safe and loved and getting them through that phase of their life. We appreciate it greatly.”

Silverwood marketing director Jordan Carter said this is completely a tribute to Silverwood's guests and their ability "to be more than themselves, especially during a time when there are so many people really hurting financially."

He said Silverwood does the easy part, "robbing a train, saving a train," but Children's Village does the hard part.

"We are more than happy to give this money to help them do what they need to do," he said.