‘If we can give a little bit back, just a little to help a food bank, then we definitely will.’
Aurora Hickey
Kicker
For most people, Halloween is a time to dress up, get scared and receive candy. But for Roger and Denise Nicholl, the holiday is about giving.
The couple live on 26 Winnipeg Street in St. John’s and their house has become a seasonal staple.
Starting in mid-September, the Nicholl’s home turns into an outdoor haunted house experience. They call it “A Haunting on Winnipeg Street.”
While they have been haunting the street for 13 years, this is only the third year the Nicholl’s have incorporated a charity.
“We started doing it just for the neighborhood,” said Roger.
Years later, Denise suggested their scary time could help other through rough times.
She then called around to some food banks and Bridges To Hope jumped right on board.
“That’s what “A Haunting on Winnipeg Street” is all about,” said Nicholl. “It’s giving back to the community and that’s what we’re here for.”
When visiting their spooky home, the couple ask people to bring non-perishable food items to place in the donation box on their lawn.
Last year, the Nicholls donated over 454 kilograms of food, valued around $4,000.
“There’s so many that need food, and just not enough to go around.”
Denise says this season has been a little slower due to the weather, and people just not being able to afford to give food away.
“This time of the year the food bank suffers the most,” she said. “With people getting ready for Christmas, they need the food.”
The pair say the project is a group effort made possible by family and volunteers. Anyone is welcome to help out, the couple says, especially as Halloween gets closer. More spirits and ghouls are always needed to scare unsuspecting visitors.
Each year, says Roger, they get a lot of support from businesses like Home Hardware, Sobeys, Signs First and countless others who contribute in some way.
“There’s so much support that we have going on and it just keeps growing,” said Roger.
In order to be ready for Oct. 1., Roger has to start setting up the display in mid-September.
Midway through October, scary actors are added to the witches’ brew of terror.
Kid friendly hours are until 4 p.m. Starting at 7 p.m., brave souls can enter at their own risk.
“It starts getting very hectic here,” Roger said.
When walking up to the Nicholl’s house, visitors will see about 50 different decorations ranging anywhere from creepy clowns to cackling witches or puking skeletons.
A vast majority of the decorations were made by Roger.
“I’ve built about 98 per cent of it,” he said. “The ideas come from me, Denise and our friend Robert.”
Last year, around 5,000 people came out to visit the Nicholl’s house of horror.
The display is open to the public for the whole month of October.
This year Roger says the display has new attractions, more blood, guts and screams.
“God knows, everyone needs to eat,” said Roger. “There’s so many that need food, and just not enough to go around.”
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