The 2008 Halloween Fest staged last week raised $7,400 for Lampasas Mission's food pantry, including a grant from Wal-Mart and funds raised at the event.

A number of individuals, businesses, churches and community members were involved.

Events included a haunted house, cake sale, hayride, fortune-telling booth, concessions, face painting, a moonwalk and several other games. About 2,000 people passed through the haunted house, and others took part in a variety of activities.

Volunteers hope next year's fest will expand with the addition of volunteers and more events.

This year, Wal-Mart associates planned the majority of events and baked all the cakes, donating more than 1,000 hours of service.

Lampasas Mission, which assists local needy families, is preparing its new headquarters on East Fourth Street where, after moving into the facility, it can expand its scope of services for the community.