Ella-ween organizer asking for donations

Kristin Luckins has a request for people who are spring cleaning.

“If you’re getting rid of any Halloween stuff, just donate it to Ella-ween,” she said.

The woman behind Sarnia Scare Grams is planning the inaugural Halloween event and Sarnia Organ Donor Awareness (SODA) fundraiser Oct. 21.

She’s gathering costumes, decorations and unused makeup to have available at Rosedale School for people to pick up, in exchange for donations to the organ donation charity.

“I just kind of want to get the word out now because a lot of people are doing spring cleaning,” she said.

She already has hundreds of items donated for the event, named in honor of her organ-donor daughter Ella Crossettewho died last July at age two after falling into her family’s pool, Luckins said.

The idea is to make it easier to celebrate Halloween for families who might struggle otherwise to purchase costumes or Halloween decor amid rising costs, she said.

“I just kind of wanted to give everybody a break and hopefully alleviate some financial stress,” Luckins said, noting costumes can also be donated back after Halloween.

Crossette loved Halloween and her birthday was Oct. 21, she said.

The date was already affectionately known as Ella-ween in her family, she said, noting she choose Rosedale as the location because it’s where her other two children attend.

Cat Cabajar of the Painted Cat, raffles, prizes and candy bags are among the planned attractions for the event that will also commemorate her daughter, and her life-saving organ donation — including several organs that went to another local boy and family friendLuckins said.

“I would rather have her here, but it just makes me happy to know that I’ll be able to spread awareness” about organ donation, she said.

“And her name, people are going to know who she is.”

Donations can be made during business hours at Rosedale or Queen Elizabeth II schools, the Hub Insurance Company at 265 Exmouth St., Motion at 49 Finch Dr., unit seven, and at the SODA office, 104-180 N. College St.

People interested in sponsorship can also contact Luckins via Sarnia Scare Grams on Facebook, she said, thanking the community for all its support so far, including for donating money for Crossette’s headstone.

“I really need to thank every single person who’s donated or helped in some way to make (Ella-ween) happen,” she said.

The event runs from noon to 5 pm

There’s also an 11 am to noon time slot for families with children with special needs, she said, noting one of her two sons has autism.

Depending on the crowd, attending when everyone is there might be overwhelming for people with disabilities, she said.

“I just wanted to also make it accessible for everybody in the community.”

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