Halloween at Youth Crossroads

A friend sent this to me, and since it's a worthy cause, I thought I'd share it here.

"October is right around the corner, which many of us here might say is our favorite month of the year. The decorations, costumes and candy -- and marathon movie festivals featuring some of our old favorites monster movies -- this is the season that makes many horror fans nostalgic for our childhood again.

Here in the Chicago area, we have a youth organization that is cooking up a rather special Halloween celebration. I wanted to share some of the details of this event with folks in the wider horror community because I think it's heartening to learn of events taking place that help spread an appreciation for a genre that we all enjoy so much. It may be you will simply enjoy hearing about this event; perhaps you live locally and would be able to attend; or perhaps you are in a position to do something to support the organization-- whatever the case, I hope this story will warm your monster-loving hearts!

Youth Crossroads (www.youthcrossroads.org) is a not-for-profit organization that provides services for children and teens, such as counseling, tutoring, mentoring, after-school activities, and such. Headquartered in Berwyn, Illinois (a near-west suburb of Chicago), Youth Crossroads serves that town as well as neighboring communities.

The group has planned a special "Monster Trilogy" event for this Halloween. They are creating a 'haunted' party space in a vacant store at the Harlem-Cermak Plaza in Berwyn that will be used to host three events-- an adult 'Monster Ball' on October 27, a 'Little Monster Bash' for smaller children on October 28, and then a teen 'Monster House Party' on October 30.

However, in addition to planning three very fun events, this program creates a wonderful way for adults and kids to work together. The kids are learning planning and leadership skills in a really fun environment. There are particulars about the program and their goals at: http://www.youthcrossroads.org/HAUNTED.html

If you live in the Chicago area, please consider you or your family attending one or more of these events. Additionally, if you live in the Chicago area and have materials you would like to donate to the project, please contact me off list, or contact Youth Crossroads through the numbers listed on the web site. We are looking for props and decorations that will turn our haunted party place into a real Monster Mash!

Also, if you are so inclined, please know that this organization would appreciate financial donations to help fund this work. (A recent state budget cut included the elimination of funds they had hoped to use for this and other programs.)

As a horror fan, one thing I love to see is the love of the genre being passed on to the next generation. This event is really doing that; it's been exciting participating and fun to watch the progress unfold. I know it would warm the hearts of monster-loving folks here to see what they are accomplishing. If all goes well, they hope to make this an annual event!

Wish us luck! And a very Happy Halloween Season one and all!

-Elizabeth Haney"