Des Moines’ ‘neighborhood-wide haunted house’ gathers donations for food pantries
Sherman Hill residents will turn a block of their neighborhood over to the dark side on Oct. 31, all in the name of filling a local food pantry.
For the ninth year, the historic Des Moines neighborhood will host Haunted on the Hill, which is “like a neighborhood-wide haunted house,” said Ryan Howell, event organizer and Sherman Hill resident.
Attendees drop off a non-perishable food item at Hoyt Sherman Place, at 1501 Woodland Ave. They’ll get a map in return and a chance to walk the neighborhood. Though no treats are involved, the area is full of tricks, Howell said.
The event began with the idea of filling the shelves at the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) food pantries, on nearby Mulberry Street.
DMARC manages a food pantry network with about 14 sites throughout the metro, a mobile food pantry and two food warehouses. During fiscal 2017, the DMARC network served about 48,000 unique individuals, according to their website.
“It started with the idea to collect food and stock the pantry with the dual purpose of taking advantage of all the historic homes in Sherman Hill,” said Ryan Howell, a Sherman Hill resident. “They lend themselves naturally to being a backdrop for something spooky. It’s a vehicle for folks who are Halloween nuts.”
And residents go all-out in terms on decorating and performing.
One year, Howell built a pirate ship manned with skeletons that filled his back yard. A neighbor outfits his yard with clowns. This year, the neighborhood is blocking off 16th Street and having a group of actors do a live reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.”
Even residents that have moved away come back to act in the festivities. Though she has since moved away, Rochelle Burnett returns to join a group of neighbors and dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” every 15 minutes. Her husband, who Howell said is nearly 7-feet-tall, dresses as Frankenstein and walks the block.
Since most metro cities designate Oct. 30 as Beggar’s Night, the event from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 gives those in the area a chance to celebrate on Halloween.
Beacon of Life, a nearby not-for-profit serving women, will also be selling treats at the event.
If you go:
What: Halloween on the Hill
Where: Sherman Hill neighborhood, starting at Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave.
When: Oct. 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
More: Bring a non-perishable food item for the Des Moines Area Religious Council food pantry network. Find the most needed items online.