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Pre-Halloween haunted house draws a crowd, funds for Boys and Girls Club

Arizona Daily Star

The hurried sound of little feet scurrying across the floor of a dimly lit tunnel of black plastic rushed past skeletons, demented clowns and the dead in UA fraternity Omega Delta Phi's haunted house Saturday night.

High pitched screams muffled the yells and howls of the fraternity members who emerged, clad in full Halloween garb, from artificial bushes, hidden walls and dark corners.

"All the kids get hyped up about it," said alumnus Albert Kin. "The smiles we see on the kids, even though they're crying, is great."

Omega Delta Phi has constructed and hosted the one-night haunted house at the Boys and Girls Club, 2585 E. 36th St., for seven years, providing terror for children between the ages of six- and 12-years-old.

"They (the children) look forward to it year after year," said John McDowell, branch director of the Boys and Girls Club. "They ask way before when it is going to happen (and) say it's the best haunted house in the city."

The haunted house is well-known because the fraternity makes a continual effort to go out into the community to make a hands-on commitment, said Andrew Lopez, human development senior and fraternity member.

"We don't believe in check writing services, we believe in hands-on service because you get more out of it," he said.

Besides the feeling the fraternity members get when speaking to appreciative parents and enthusiastic children, they understand the importance of hands-on contributions, said Brian Brown, business administration sophomore.

"It's positive for the community because kids get to do this for free," Brown said. "We're not just giving money to the (center), everyone can give money, but can everyone give time?"

Last year, the haunted house entertained about 400 children, and this year, about 550 attended, said Alex Rios, accounting and finance senior and member of the fraternity.

University of Arizona sorority, Kappa Delta Chi, co-hosted the pre-Halloween bash with a carnival.

The carnival, an assortment of games, kept the children busy before entering the haunted house.

"They're extremely excited to be here," said Jennifer Garner, education senior and member of Kappa Delta Chi. "They like the fact that there is a place for them to go, and they appreciate us putting this together."

Just being there shows the community that the fraternity or sorority is serious about helping their community and are trying to make a positive change, said Mahdere Gebreyesus, electrical engineering senior.

"Sometimes you need to let people know you're not (in a fraternity) to just party," he said.

Gebreyesus emphasized the importance of a continual contribution because "coming here once a year isn't going to help them."