Scare Away Hunger Surpasses 1,500 Donations Ahead of Halloween

UPDATE: Scare Away Hunger, a family-run haunted house in Cedar Bay, has just exceeded its goal by collecting over 1,500 food items for Samaritan House Ministries. The attraction, which aims to combat local hunger, has experienced a surge in community support as Halloween approaches.

Carla Mitchell, one of the organizers, confirmed the milestone on Sunday evening, stating, “We have surpassed our goal of 1,500 items, and we’ll keep collecting.” The donations include essential items like canned goods, soups, cereal, and personal hygiene products — all crucial for families relying on the food bank.

The haunted house, now in its third year, kicked off its season last weekend, drawing hundreds of visitors eager to donate and experience the thrills. “Last time we had about 300 people come through, and today we had around 250 kids,” Mitchell reported. “We’re hoping for the same tonight.”

Every September, the Mitchell family transforms their home into a spine-chilling maze, complete with fog machines and eerie lighting. The attraction has evolved from a small family project into a significant community effort, encouraging even those who don’t enter to donate food.

“This has really become a neighbourhood effort,” Mitchell said. “We have people dropping off food even if they don’t go through the haunted house.” The collected items will support Samaritan House, which serves hundreds of families each month through its food bank and outreach programs, especially vital as colder months approach.

As Halloween night nears, the Mitchells are preparing for a final rush of visitors. The haunted house will be open for full-scare trick-or-treating on October 31 from 6 to 9 p.m., with guests encouraged to bring non-perishable food items as admission.

“We love Halloween — the creativity, the costumes, the fun — but what we love most is seeing people come together for a cause,” Mitchell expressed. “It’s a great feeling knowing that while we’re scaring people for fun, we’re helping others at the same time.”

With community spirit at an all-time high, Scare Away Hunger is proving that even the smallest efforts can lead to significant impacts. Don’t miss the chance to join this initiative and help support local families in need this Halloween!