Duane Hicks
Volunteers,
candy needed
After drawing hordes of trick-or-treaters to her haunted backyard at 1030 Scott St. for the past two Hallowe’ens, Tess Coish of Tess’ Kitchen is getting ready to do the same again this year.
The event attracted more than 700 children in 2008, and topped 900 last year, and Tess and Robert Coish are hoping for the same success this Oct. 31.
“It’s fun for the kids. It’s a safe place to go,” Tess Coish replied when asked about why they decided to stage the event once again.
“Everybody says we should charge money but, no, it’s something we want to do,” she added.
But as the couple plans for the event, which sees their yard decked out as a spooky but fun Hallowe’en maze for youngsters to explore, they will need a some help from the community.
First, they need volunteers to help build the haunted backyard, decorate it, and then run it on Hallowe’en night.
They’ll get help from Fort Frances Lakers’ players like they did last year, and are hoping again to get similar assistance from the Muskie boys’ hockey team.
Coish noted other people are encouraged to help out, as well, especially high school students who need to earn their volunteer hours in order to graduate.
“The more volunteers, the better,” she remarked.
Coish noted that volunteers who help out on Oct. 31 are asked to look the part and wear costumes (nothing too gruesome, though).
They also will need some specific props to borrow for the setup (furniture, etc.), and anyone willing to lend them some items can contact them at the phone number below. Coish stressed they only want to borrow the items, and don’t want to keep them (or in the case of old furniture, for example, having to get rid of it).
Of course, with that many trick-or-treaters, the event also needs a large supply of candy.
Just as in the past two years, individuals or businesses are encouraged to donate candy. While it is preferable they drop it off at Tess’ Kitchen, pick-up of candy can be arranged.
Those who donate candy—either to support what’s fast becoming a community event or in lieu of giving out candy themselves—can get a sign for their window or door to notify others that they already have given candy to the event.
Coish stressed she only wants candy, not cash to buy candy.
She also has been given 900 glow sticks by Family & Children’s Services to hand out to trick-or-treaters.
The event will start just before or at sundown on Hallowe’en and run until about 9 p.m.—assuming the candy reserves last that long.
Anyone interested in donating candy, or needing more information, can call Coish at 274-0787 or drop by 1030 Scott St.
