Scaring up money for charity

Dave Caldwell,the new manager at IFA Country Store, likes doing community events like the haunted house for Halloween.

The IFA Country Store scared up some extra change for local charities this Halloween.

Employees and their families at the farm and ranch supply store north of Cortez constructed an elaborate haunted house and for a donation to local charities, the staff would gladly scare the extra change out of you.

“I like to do community events and give back to the community,” said IFA branch manager Dave Caldwell.

Caldwell said there is a not-too scary haunted house for children, but the other one is, well, not for young children. It has 10 rooms and features clowns, zombies and dead people.

“It’s pretty scary,” Caldwell said.

So far, the store has opened up the haunted house twice to the public. The first time was on Oct. 18. Admission was a non-perishable food donation for Hope’s Kitchen. The store gave all the food and $80.59 to Hope’s Kitchen.

On Saturday, Oct. 25, IFA had it’s first Fall Festival, with games, costume contests, prizes and a kid’s haunted house during the day.

That night, the store had the second run of the haunted house. For entrance, the store requested donations to For Pet’s Sake Shelter and raised $785.76.

“It was wonderful. We were hoping for a big turnout, and we got one,” Caldwell said.

The store plans to open up the haunted house again on Friday, Oct. 31. There is a suggested donation for $5 for entrance, which will go toward adopting families for Christmas through the Salvation Army

The final run of the haunted house will be from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Information: 565-3077. IFA is at 10501 U.S. 491.