Mission of Hope becomes involved
By Erik Buchinger
The fourth annual Halloween Hustle at St. Rose St. Mary’s School will be held on Friday, Oct. 26 with a variety of events for families.
First grade teacher Stephanie McGregor and kindergarten teacher Jen Falk said the event has increased in attendees every year with about 350 to 400 people.
The list of activities and events during Halloween Hustle includes:
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat, from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m., costs $10 per participant and includes goodie bags.
All ages are welcome to trick-or-treat among the vehicles, but children must be supervised by an adult.
Games and prizes will be available.
5K Fun Run/Walk
The 5K will begin at 6 p.m.
The cost is $30 and includes a race bag, T-shirt, LED band, post-race beverage and snack.
Participants are automatically entered to the grand prize drawing immediately after the 5K. Prizes include an Xbox One S, six-month Clintonville High School Rec Center membership and a FitBit Alta.
Child care
Child care will be offered during the 5K.
The cost is included in registered 5K participants. It Includes crafts, face painting, pumpkin decorating and other indoor activities.
Check-in is from 5:45 to 5:55 p.m., right after trunk or treat.
Halloween Costume Contest
The costume contest is free to participate in for children and adults.
Prizes include a family bowling package, Nintendo Classic and a drill from Clintonville Lumber.
Mission of Hope
“Mary [Hohensee] worked here many years and has been a big supporter of the school and the events,” kindergarten teacher Jen Falk said. “That’s when Mary came to me and said she’s been working with Mission of Hope and would like to raise awareness.”
Hohensee, a former St. Rose St. Mary’s bookkeeper, wanted to promote New London’s Mission of Hope House homeless shelter to the Clintonville area.
“By doing that, one of the things I’m doing is I have a restaurant I’m selling right now that’s up for sale,” Hohensee said. “One percent of the net proceeds will go to the Mission of Hope House once it’s sold.”
Scott Bellile file photo
In addition to the financial proceeds from the sale of the restaurant formerly known as Who’s on Main, the Mission of Hope House will have its logo on the Halloween Hustle shirts given away at the event.
“We’re getting a lot of calls from Clintonville folks and families who are in need,” Mission of Hope House co-founder Lori Prahl said. “They’re looking for referrals and places to go for help and assistance, and we’re trying to get the word out here because a lot of families are hurting including some in Clintonville.”
Hohensee said she recognized a need to raise awareness since Clintonville does not have a facility like the Mission of Hope House in New London.
“We don’t currently have a facility like that in Clintonville, so by having this, they can see there are places to go,” Hohensee said. “They have facilities, and what we’d like to do is to get a group together to help promote within the Clintonville area.”
Prahl said she would like this to be the first event in Clintonville to help promote awareness.
“That’s the first thing. If you’re not aware, you’re not going to react to the need that is in the community,” Prahl said. “We hope by having the school came forward with and in putting our logo on to those 300 to 400 runners or walkers, just by seeing that, it’s huge for awareness.”
Hohensee said the hope is to have a breakfast or a soup luncheon in the future to help raise funds.
“With one community member stepping out, maybe that might spur someone to financially donate or donate their time,” Prahl said. “Volunteers and items are always needed.”
Prahl will have a booth where she can answer questions at the event.
“We’re trying to prevent [the homeless] to even getting to us,” Prahl said. “If they’re down some road, we can at least give them the next steps. Our vision is to engage our community in the fight to end homelessness. This is just one way we’re engaging the community in the Clintonville area.”