Frightful fundraiser

Giving back to the community in which they live is the primary mission of the International Lions Organization. But it is doubtful that members of other clubs have as much fun raising money as do the 54 members of the Post Falls chapter.

For the last 38 years the Lions Club of Post Falls has hosted a haunted house to help raise money for the many organizations and individuals it serves.

This will mark the 13th consecutive year that the Lions Club has held its event at its current location at Fourth and Post in Post Falls. The house, donated by Idaho Veneer, sits quiet for most of the year, but comes alive in October, bringing shrieks and screams to its many visitors.

Work begins long before the event and involves many hours of planning and hard work.

“It is very labor-intensive,” said Jim White, past president and current member of the Post Falls Lions Club. “We probably have over 2,000 hours (of preparation time) with all of us chipping in.”

The group spends two months preparing the approximately 13 rooms with trap doors, revolving tunnels, vibrating floors and flying bats. Pathways lead the visitors through libraries and a graveyard. Trembling with anticipation, the guests never know what lies around the next corner, whether it’s spooks with chain saws, giant spiders or mummies that jump out when one least expects it.

The event is a favorite of both young and old, but White said it is not just the children who sometimes have to make use of the escape hatches providing those not wanting to complete the journey a quick exit. Of the people who want to escape, there are a large number of them who are adults.

But the group’s members assure the public that even if you find yourself wanting to exit, there is still plenty to enjoy. The club members’ wives are working hard each night selling popcorn, hot chocolate, hot dogs and more that add to the holiday atmosphere.

The members say that recruiting volunteers for the event has never been an issue

“You’ve literally got them lined up to help out,” said White, speaking of the many high school and college students who have spent years waiting until it is their turn to volunteer as spooks. “The grade-school kids cannot wait until they are old enough to help out.”

The kids work in two-hour shifts. There are usually about 25 to 30 kids working in the house at a time, requiring a total of 90 volunteers per night just for the house alone.

“We cannot operate without the school kids,” said White.

In addition to those serving concessions, selling tickets and dressing as spooks, two women, one of whom is studying to be a make-up artist, travel from Priest River to help transform the students into a cast of spooks and ghouls.

“The injuries look real,” said Ken Cook who is a past president of the club and co-chairman of the haunted house committee. “You would swear someone actually cut them.”

Because many in the community have made it a tradition to visit the haunted house, the Lions members are careful to switch things around each year to add to the excitement.

The money raised allows the club to fulfill its mission of serving members of the community in which they live.

“We manage to spend it all every year,” said White.

One of their most widely known programs is the vision program. In one year the Post Falls chapter collected over 5,000 pairs of eyeglasses to be recycled and distributed.

“We helped pay for a cornea transplant as well as 20 to 30 eye exams in the past year,” said Cook. The group also constructed three wheelchair ramps for people who require assistance getting in and out of their homes, not charging a cent for either the materials or labor.

Other recipients include high school students. Cook said the group donated 14 scholarships worth $500 each last year alone. The club also give to the local food bank, the Fire Department’s Christmas fund as well as programs such as Junior Miss.

The club has a committee that reviews the applications and, as far as Cook knows, members have never had to turn anyone away in the nine years he has been with the group.

“We just try to help everyone we can,” said Cook. “It’s all about giving back to the community.”