Brunswick household raising funds for Skeletons for St. Jude

BRUNSWICK — A household on Eisenhower Drive in Brunswick is part of a nationwide fundraising initiative for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which involves setting up Halloween displays in their yard. According to Skeletons for St. Jude, the initiative started in Holly Springs, North Carolina, in 2020. A local television station aired the Robertson family's skeleton Halloween display, and the family decided to place a St. Jude fundraising sign in their yard, which generated $8,200 for the charity in a few weeks. The Robertson family decided to turn their fundraiser into an annual event, which has since spread across the country over the past five years. More than 1,000 homes in the United States have taken part in Skeletons for St. Jude, and the entire organization surpassed $1 million raised in total over the years. Brunswick resident Dave Franklin was already a fan of Halloween when he stumbled across the initiative online. It is his third year taking part in the program, and he is already close to his goal of raising $1,500 this year. More decorations go into his yard, the more time that goes on, and all decorations go out on Halloween, he said. People are welcome to stop by and look at the decorations, like the giant skeleton walking his giant skeleton dog alongside large figures such as a witch and a werewolf. To make a donation to Franklin's fundraiser initiative, visit tinyurl.com/ycy28j7n. Those who visit in-person can also scan the QR code on the sign in his yard to make a donation. "This is the only charity I really donate to," he said. "(It is) the fact that it's children's cancer, and they've never sent a bill out. You can't ask for a better charity than that." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.