Halloween fundraiser hoping to help ‘boo’-st local mental health supports
Anyone looking to make a difference this Halloween can look no further than Medicine Hat’s specialty reptile store.
Chaotic Xotics will be holding its annual Halloween fundraiser on the 31st from 4-7 p.m. at the store, with all money raised being donated to Canadian Mental Health.
“We want our events to be family oriented,” said store owner, Terry Armstrong. “We’re doing crafts and glitter tattoos by donation.
“This time, we’re also going to have Jenn Galloway from A Day in the Life Photography, who has offered to come down and do a Halloween photoshoot. We’ll get the kids and their families on our couch, and maybe even holding a reptile if they’re up to it.”
Photo sessions with Galloway will cost a minimum $10 donation.
Armstrong says mental health initiatives are important to him.
“We know people who have been affected by mental health,” he said. “We’ve attended the mental health run in the city for the past couple years, so it’s something that’s important to us.”
Armstrong says he is always impressed with the amount of charitable events that happen around Christmas, but he wanted to do something at a part of the year that gets a bit less attention.
“I just love Halloween,” he said. “Doing this at Halloween makes sense for us. We keep most of our Halloween decorations up all year, so I think people recognize us for it at this point.
“This event doesn’t run late, so everyone will have plenty of time to trick or treat afterwards.”
With this being the third year of Chaotic Xotics holding a Halloween event, Armstrong says he plans on organizing something for Halloweens to come.
“At this point, it has become a thing — something we’re going to try and keep doing,” he said. “Last year we held a little fundraiser for Violet Liske, this year we’re doing Canadian Mental Health, so we’ll need to think of something creative and fun for next year.”
For more information on the event go to the Chaotic Xotics Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ChaoticReptiles