The headquarters of S.C.A.R.E. at Jesse Palmer's residence, 1 Chestnut St., in Nashua, is poised to become an annual go-to for the Halloween season as a Spookville Haunt that offers a scary trail of surprises around the property during the Halloween season of Friday, Oct. 16, through Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

NASHUA – “Ghosts and goblins … oooo … owls and witches … toooo … scariest things I ever have seen…but I’m not afraid … because it’s Halloween!”

Ditties abound that never fail to tantalize families who are anticipating some tricks or treats at a multitude of Halloween celebrations.

Nevertheless, if they have no Spiderman, Moana, Star Wars, or Fairy costumes to wear to an event, the party may be populated by nobody except the loneliest ghost in town.

Jesse Palmer, a longtime Nashua resident, provided a decade ago the opportunity for families to be gifted Halloween costumes that oftentimes were brand new, or gently used.

He established a nonprofit organization with a big name — Secondhand Costume Annual Redistribution Effort — S.C.A.R.E.

Jesse Palmer, Head Hauntcho and Founder of S.C.A.R.E., — Secondhand Costume Annual Redistribution Effort — displays some of the new and gently-used Halloween costumes donated by sponsors and community members to ensure that children and families are gifted with satisfying costumes. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

“We began as a grassroots nonprofit in Greater Nashua and now we help kids in 25 communities throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine,” said S.C.A.R.E. Head Hauntcho and Founder Jesse Palmer, whose program is backed by a not-so-scary Board of Directors and a “Boo Crew” of volunteers.

“Last year, we provided more than 1,500 costumes to kids and their families and we hope to help even more of them this year,” he added.

Palmer originated S.C.A.R.E. by giving some leftover costumes that his son had outgrown to friends and neighbors.

The project since then has bubbled up like “The Blob” movie hit of 1958. It is now a far-reaching success with dozens of distribution points at youth centers, schools, public libraries, and elsewhere.

Documented online, thus far, are “10 Years of Magic and Mayhem, 60 Costume Distribution Events and 5,500 Costumes Handed Out,” notes S.C.A.R.E.

Jesse Palmer, a Nashua resident and founder of S.C.A.R.E., is the Head Hauntcho behind a nonprofit that for over more than 10 years has supplied thousands of Halloween costumes to children and families in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Membership in the Nashua Chamber of Commerce and collaborations with United Way of Greater Nashua, in addition to support from the Alton Business Association has stoked the pace of growth.

So, too, has the patronage of Walmart, Target, Hannaford, Green Bin Kathy Ireland rental bins, and New England Curiosities legendary tours and events, along with Underground New Hampshire, a Nashua private music club, businesses that are 2026 S.C.A.R.E. sponsors.

Palmer said that the mission to collect and give away hundreds of costumes that are new or gently used goes far towards fulfilling the organization’s goal of enabling “all my little ghosts and goblins to have a perfect costume to enjoy all the magic and mayhem that is Halloween.”

Palmer’s Nashua home and S.C.A.R.E. headquarters, 1 Chestnut St., is a residential haven of year-round Halloween happiness whose rooms display hundreds of items of Halloween decor, statuary, memorabilia and knickknacks attached to storage areas for donated costumes.

This Head Hauntco lives the mission. He transforms his home further at Halloween into a popular annual attraction — Spookville Haunt. This year, it features a trail laden with spooky surprises, scary lights, ominous yard decor and eerie sound effects to make visitors feel immersed.

“There is no admission fee so everyone can participate in the fun,” Palmer ensured. “If you feel like you had a good time, any donations go right back to S.C.A.R.E. to help provide more costumes to more families in more communities.”

The venue is a creepy enticement well-staffed with trained, costumed, volunteer actors lurking in the darkness during a time frame of festivities ongoing from Friday, Oct. 16, through Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31.

More information on S.C.A.R.E. and the Spookville Haunt or on volunteering, donating or participating in activities sponsored by S.C.A.R.E. is available online at scarenh.org.