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A neighbor making a community
By Patti Pfeiffer, Life's a Trip
Halloween makes me wish I was a kid again. It makes me wish I had a kid. And this year it brought out the kid in me. For the first time in so many decades, I visited a haunted house. Aah, but there was something extraordinary, spooktaculiary special about this scary scene.
It wasn't just about frightening folks, but more about filling cupboards.
The day after tricking and treating, while young kids were gloating over and consuming their goodies, Jim Venvertloh was likewise relishing his haul. No, this Flower Mound father of two did not revert to childhood and take to knocking on doors in search of sweet treats. His Halloween night centered on a mission of mercy. Providing fright meant soliciting donations for a worthy cause.
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| Patti Pfeiffer / Photo by Terri Pearce |
It was obvious that something big was planned, something huge under way. Eventually the exterior of the home changed. The red brick replaced by spooky looking props. The well-groomed yard was dotted with headstones. So many days a female ghost greeted those of us living on the street. His home became a haunted house.
Using his spare time, talent, materials and means, Jim spent nearly a year converting a portion of his residence into a spine-chilling house of horrors. Instead of housing vehicles, his garage soon hosted a ghoulish gathering. Wall-to-wall the area was filled with ghosts, coffins, skeletons and other sorts of fright. Bloody scenes were abundant. Eerie lightning illuminated a torture chamber, severed body parts were scattered throughout. Scary sounds echoed. Fog hung heavy.
On Halloween night, for a suggested donation of non-perishable items, brave souls entered the devilish dwelling. Screams followed. Young and old entered, more than 300 visitors toured the spine-chilling chamber. Turnout was better than predicted. Contributions exceeded expectations. The white 50-gallon barrel located near the haunted house entrance was not only filled, it overflowed. And cash was collected as well.
"We didn't expect cash donations. So that was fantastic. We'd hoped to fill the barrel and it overfilled," Jim shared. "Everyone came out having had a good time. Everyone had fun. It was a great night. And it felt good having an opportunity to do something good."
With the holidays fast approaching, Jim's goodness is perfect timing. Collected canned goods and cash donations are much needed. Thanks to this Flower Mound resident, empty shelf space will be less at the food pantry at Metrocrest Social Services.
For 40 years this nonprofit agency has been in the business of helping those in need by providing assistance with rent, utility payments, food, clothing and prescriptions. They also offer employment assistance and support. Their goal is to prevent homelessness. And, according to their website, their mission is to "provide emergency assistance and comprehensive programs to move families toward self-sufficiency; serving residents of Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Coppell and zip code 75287 in Denton County."
Last year more than 11,000 individuals received assistance from Metrocrest. A continual increase in need stretches limited resources, making a gesture such as Jim's even more valuable.
"We were so delighted when we learned of Jim's effort, collections and contributions. It's a wonderful way to help our mission. There are seasons in food pantries and needs are increasing again; that is why projects like this are so very important. Unfortunately, each year there is an increase in the number of people in need. The increase is partially due to the economy and some due to companies cutting back on benefits forcing individuals and families to take on more financial burdens."
The haunted house down the street afforded me the opportunity to act like a kid again, scream like a girl. It demonstrated that this type of neighbor is what makes a community.
Patti Pfeiffer is a Star Local News columnist, freelance writer and author. She may be contacted at pattip913@msn.com
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