Middlesex County’s 4-H Center has been transformed into a thrilling haunted house in an attempt to raise money for needy families across the county.
Money raised from the haunted house and other 4-H fundraisers throughout the year go to benefit Project Gift, an initiative that provides a free day of holiday shopping to families with limited resources.
The haunted house, open Fridays and Saturdays in October, was designed and built by more than 20 members of the 4-H Teen Council and adult volunteers. The young adults worked on the project almost daily throughout September.
“It’s really driven by our 4-H teens and young adult leaders who came through the 4-H program themselves and want to give back,” said Laura Bovitz, Middlesex County 4-H agent.
The structure, built with wooden poles and canvas tarps, has new obstacles and paths this year that are intended to surprise both new and annual visitors.
“We put little obstructions and things in the way that make it scarier,” said project leader Dan Kane, a 21-year-old East Brunswick resident who has been involved with 4-H since childhood. “Adding new things is important because most of our business is from people that come year to year.”
Fear is heightened with props, costumed volunteers and a video.
“It’s fun. Everyone gets scared, from kids to parents,” said project leader Chris Emmons, a 29-year-old Middlesex resident who has been involved with 4-H for 15 years. “Parents sometimes run out screaming in front of their kids.”
Hot chocolate and snacks are available outside, as are activities such as pumpkin painting and miniature golf.
“We are trying to make it bigger, little by little,” said Emmons.
The idea to use a haunted house as a way to raise money for Project Gift emerged from 4-H Teen Council members several years ago.
“The teens who were in the club wanted to do a haunted house,” Bovitz said. “It started out really small, but it’s been building, and has turned into something that our teens and young adults work on for about a month. It’s a big commitment but I think the kids that work with it really believe in it.”
The 4-H Teen and Junior councils work all year to plan and conduct fundraisers to benefit Project Gift. These include a dunking stool and miniature golf course at the Middlesex County Fair. “Fifty-five teens work throughout the year to come up with projects that will support Project Gift and they are very involved in making decisions on how things run, it’s very much a team-driven program,” said Bovitz. “It’s a huge endeavor and it’s costly but we make enough to offset the costs.”
The group raises an average of $6,000 after costs and another $5,000 is donated by community organizations on the average year. The 4-H members use the money to shop for families in need, then set up a mini-store in December so parents can shop for their children at no cost.
“We go out and buy gifts, set up a store, and then [the parents of participating families] come in December and pick out gifts for their children,” said Kane. “I enjoy it, I’ve been working [with Project Gift] ever since it started.”
Families are referred to the project by 12 agencies, such as FISH Hospitality, East Brunswick Community Center, Amandla Crossing and Women Aware, all of which work with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.
The 4-H volunteers use information provided by the agencies to pick out age- and gender specific gifts. On average, there are about 300 kids from 110 participating families.
Project Gift is unique in that parents aren’t just anonymously receiving gifts but actually have the ability to pick out specific gifts for their children.
“They wanted to do something that would give parents a sense of empowerment,” Bovitz said. “The premise is parents weren’t just presented with anonymous gifts; they were actually shopping for their kids.”
Project Gift is a National 4-H “Program of Distinction.” Last year, the project was awarded one of five Family Strengthening Awards and given $15,000 from the National 4-H Council and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The money was used for 4-H programs that help disadvantaged families in the county.
“It’s fun giving back to the community and to the kids,” said Emmons, who has done much of the prop building.
The haunted house is located at the 4-H Center on Cranbury Road. It is open on weekends from 7-11 p.m. through Oct. 30. Tickets cost $3.