Hungry for a cause
Dressed in tattered clothes and bloody makeup, the Fredericton zombies looked like they were ready to bite into some brains. But the only thing these zombies were hungry for was a good cause.
Around 30 Frederictonians came back from the dead to participate in the eleventh annual Zombie Food Drive. The fundraiser donated a shopping cart full of non-perishable food items, like cereal and pasta, and $40 to Greener Village.
Alex Boyd, the executive director of Greener Village, said the food bank feeds around 3500 people a month. He said the Zombie Food Drive is a fun way to fight hunger.
“When you can take something you enjoy and also help people while you’re enjoying it, it’s really neat,” Boyd said.
The undead gathered at Officer’s Square on Oct. 19 and hobbled around downtown Fredericton, growling at anyone who passed by. They stopped at the courthouse for a photo op before returning to Officer’s Square for a cake made with brains.
Stephanie Durelle, a former organizer of the Zombie Food Drive, said the idea began with a handful University of New Brunswick students. Toronto and Montreal had zombie walks and the students wanted to bring a similar event to Fredericton to help the food bank.
Durelle said it’s good to donate to the food bank at any time of year, but Halloween helps make it fun.
“It’s a good excuse to dress up as a zombie and people seem to love it and we’re able to help out with the community at the same time,” Durelle said.
Dean Grattan and his daughter, Mia, have participated in the Zombie Food Drive for the past three years. While Mia enjoys scaring people, Grattan likes to experiment with the costumes and makeup.
Grattan was dressed in a ripped and bloody sweater vest. His face was pale with a human bite mark on his right cheek. Mia wore a white wig with a black wedding veil attached to pale blue flowers. Blood stained the left side of her face and her wedding dress.
“It’s a different thing for a father and daughter to do, but I think it’s a lot of fun,” Grattan said.