A glimpse into the haunted house at Cindy's Independent Grocer in Melfort. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Halloween Fright

Raising funds for Christmas adopted families through Halloween haunted house at Independent Grocer

Oct 29, 2019 | 11:31 AM

Cindy’s Independent Grocer in Melfort is getting into the Halloween spirit while raising funds for families in need over the Christmas holidays.

The store opened a haunted house on Friday night, and will be open for two more nights leading up to Halloween night.

Owner Cindy Quinton said her store has hosted the event for three years now and it has been a huge hit.

“Looking at Saturday night, I thought because it was cold it wouldn’t be as good but it was still an excellent turnout and we are looking forward to the next two nights,” Quinton said.

The haunted house that is set up in the usual greenhouse space was closed a bit early on Monday night due to weather conditions but other than that, things have gone smoothly.

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Staff at the store has spent the last few weeks setting up the haunted house and are continually adding to it each year.

Quinton said that her store manager Wendy came up with the idea.

“There’s nothing really going on in Melfort in order to get people out to celebrate Halloween other than trick or treating,” Quinton said. “The intention is to just get the community together, and to enjoy Halloween.”

So far, there have been kids as young as three years old that join in the fun.

“If the parents are wanting the children to just walk through, we will come out so they can just enjoy the attraction without us scaring them,” Quinton said.

Entry fees into the haunted house will go toward the store’s Christmas Adopted Families initiative. Under five years old are free, six to 10 are $2.50 and anyone older than 10 is $5 a person.

The community is asked to nominate families when December rolls around, to be an adopted family at Christmas time.

“We choose two families and then we Christmas shop for them for food, gift certificates, and gifts,” Quinton said. “We also bring Santa, and get sleigh rides donated as well.”

The haunted house will run from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday night.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser