A ghostly good time: Bottles to Backpacks will host second annual ‘Haunted Church’ attraction

GRUNDY CENTER - With Halloween just around the corner, families looking for some kid-friendly haunts don’t have to go far. For the second year in a row, the Bottles To Backpacks child care center will be hosting a ‘Haunted Church’ attraction, which will offer scares for kids of all ages.
This year, the attraction will be bigger and better than before, says Bottles to Backpacks Director Val Rhoads.
“Last year was a hit; it went a lot better than we could have expected,” Rhoads said. “We had three hundred people come through the doors. We got a lot of good feedback from everyone, and we’re excited to do it again this year, but bigger and better.”
This year, the theme of the haunted church is “Haunted Prison.” The attraction, which is held inside the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church (located right next to Bottles and Backpacks) will be held two nights instead of one. The attraction will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27.
Those who dare will enter the attraction through the side door on the east side of the church, and will then be led into the “Haunted Prison,” where a variety of frights await them.
The Haunted Church is created and run by by Bottles to Backpacks employees and volunteers.
“The staff has been working really hard since the beginning of September to set everything up,” Rhoads said. “They’ve added even more rooms than last year, and lots of spooky new additions. I think the girls are just as excited about creating this as all the people who come through.”
Entrance into the Haunted Prisom costs $2 and one canned food item per person. Canned food items will be donated to Operation Threshold, and cash donations will go towards supporting Bottles to Backpacks, specifically to buy books and other learning materials for the children.
For the full story, see this week's Grundy Register.