In 2020, Jeff Robertson of Holly Springs, North Carolina accidentally started a new holiday tradition — and now it’s one that over 600 households across the United States participate in.
That Halloween, Robertson went “a little overboard,” with his spooky yard display. His skeleton army attracted attention across the state, with horror fans traveling hours to see it.
“That night we had a family huddle and said, ‘This is kind of cool that we’re on the news, but you know, let’s kind of take the spotlight off of us,” Robertson told St. Jude Inspire. “Like, how can we use this for good?’”
“We all agreed that we should start a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”
That fundraiser, Skeletons for St. Jude, has sparked an annual tradition that’s still going strong today.
“Join hundreds of home haunters across the country raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — so families never get a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food,” Skeletons for St. Jude said in a statement. “Same haunt you already build. Way bigger reason.”
To date, Skeletons for St. Jude has raised over $1.1 million.
“Thank you to all of our team members who have made Jeff’s dream more than a reality!” Skeletons for St. Jude said on its website.
“We look forward to you joining us to bring additional attention and awareness — during your haunts — of the children being treated at St. Jude Childrens Hospital and the awesome work they do there!”
This year, Skeletons for St. Jude hopes to shatter its earlier fundraising records.
“This year, year 7, we embark on our next goal of two million dollars raised for this awesome organization.”
A week out from Halloween, 202 participating households had already added their address to the “Fright Map” website, so that they could easily be found online by prospective donors.
In total, 625 homes are set to join the “haunt” — which extends from Halloween through December 25.
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jeffery Broking has spent the month of October setting up his display at his grandmother’s house. In total, he’s installed over 40 animatronics.
“I’ve been dealing with seizures the past few years, and I’ve met lots of sick kids and their families,” Broking told WDIO ABC. “I just want to give back.”
One house in Willits, California already had a 12-foot flaming skeleton (safely) burning on its lawn.
“We will be handing out candy and may have a few special surprises,” participant Krystle Coffman told Willits reporter Kym Kemp.
Roughly 2,900 miles away, Elizabeth Stripling was working on her own display in Delmar, Maryland as she laid out skeletons, pumpkins, tombstones, and spiderwebs on her and her neighbor’s lawns.
“The more I learned about it, I thought, why not?” Stripling said in an interview with news station WMDT. “I’m already decorating and I’ve already got skeletons, so I’ll just go ahead and gives me an excuse to build to my collection. And it brings such joy to the kids in the neighborhood.”
Like other “haunters” across the country, Stripling will have a donation jar on her lawn where passing neighbors can donate to the cause.
“We think a lot about kids at Halloween. And that’s what Saint Jude is all about. It’s all about kids,” said Stripling, who serves as the director of outreach and training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Autism Services.
“They’re not feeling well if they’re there in the hospital and … this is something that might bring them a little light too, to know that there are people out here thinking about them on Halloween night, wishing they could be celebrating with them.”
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Featured Image: Skeletons for St. Jude/Facebook
