As part of Halloween festivities, Cedar Hollow Haunted House in Manitoba revived its annual “Scare Away Hunger” food drive, donating all collected food to Samaritan House Ministries, an organization supporting people in need through food banks, shelters, training courses, and more. Operated by Carla and Mike Mitchell and their three daughters, the family transformed their Cedar Bay home’s front lawn, driveway, and garage into a thrilling display of spooky props, animatronics, and inflatables. They invited visitors to experience the scares on October 25, 26, 27, and 31, accepting food donations in return for Samaritan House Ministries.
Although the fundraiser is only in its second year, the family’s collection of Halloween decorations stemmed from a decade of running haunted houses. Throughout the year, they scoured stores and garage sales for good deals to add to their Halloween collection. Carla expressed their enthusiasm for the holiday, stating how integral Halloween had always been to their lives, which inspired their dedication to decorating. The family has been organizing Haunted House experiences for the community every year since moving to Brandon in 2020.
Mike noted that they had attracted many visitors throughout the years, leading them to want to do something to help their community. In 2023, they decided to begin a yearly food drive alongside the haunted house; they counted roughly 400 visitors and collected more than 500 donations for the local Samaritan House. They received many donations this year, ranging from non-perishable foods like cereal and pasta to essential children’s items like baby food, diapers, and other hygiene products. Carla highlighted the growing need in Brandon, particularly for the food bank, and mentioned how their initiative combined their love of Halloween with a commitment to helping the community and others in need.
On October 25 and 26, from 5 to 9 p.m., Cedar Hollow hosted “full scare hours,” during which all animatronics, lights, and sound effects were activated, and scare actors awaited to surprise unsuspecting visitors. The following day, October 27, featured “no scare hours” from 2 to 6 p.m., intended for younger children and those with lower tolerance for scares. During this time, Carla discussed the importance of food security with visitors, stating how important it is for everyone in the community to help each other and others in need.
For more information about the haunted house, visitors were encouraged to check out Cedar Hollow Scare Away Hunger on Facebook.
Source: Brandon Sun
