FOR A GOOD CAUSE -- Ellis Dandy

Story by Paul Clinton; photo by [tk]

Creating a safe atmosphere for children at Halloween gives Ellis Dandy

a strong sense of purpose.

Dandy volunteered his time as one of the crew of organizers of Calvary

Church’s annual Halloween festival. Leaders of the Newport-Mesa church

each year bring a mini-carnival to their property to entertain costumed

children.

“This is just something we do as a way to reach out to the community

and to provide a safe environment,” Dandy said.

The 29-year-old has been a member of the church since 1998, so this

marks his third year of involvement with the Halloween festival.

The first year, he worked the parking lot. The second year, Dandy

guided children through the crosswalks.

This year, he managed the more than 80 church members who volunteered

in the three months leading up to the event.

Instead of spooks and chills, the festival is oriented toward carnival

games in a county fair-type atmosphere. There’s a dunk tank, pie-carrying

contest and a “Jump For Fun” inflatable slide.

This year, Dandy, volunteering a lion’s share of his own time, was

quick to praise others who sacrifice their time to get the carnival on

its feet.

“One of the biggest things a church depends on is their volunteers,”

Dandy said. “They’re the wheel behind the scenes that keep everything

moving.”

Dandy, who lives in Lake Forest, is also a minister of sorts at the

church. He leads Project Impact, an outreach ministry oriented toward

bringing in new members and current members who are out of practice.