Our History
It’s Spooky To Be Hungry® was founded in 1992 by Evelyn Browne with the goals of bringing people of all ages together in fun, brief, significant, community-building volunteer work, working together to fight hunger. Spooky is primarily a neighbor-to-neighbor effort, but now also includes organized drives with many businesses, faith communities, and civic organizations.
Spooky began with only a handful of volunteers — adults and children – first in one neighborhood in Rochester, Minnesota, and then in three suburban neighborhoods in Columbia County, just outside Augusta, Georgia. By 2006 It’s Spooky To Be Hungry® had become the single largest grassroots service project in CSRA regional history including over 2700 volunteers, half of them children, across a ten county area of Georgia and South Carolina.
In 2002, Spooky incorporated as a tax-exempt non-profit charitable corporation. In 2006, the Spooky CSRA partnered with Golden Harvest Food Bank, the recipient of the Augusta area Spooky collection, in order to expand the reach of the food drive. This partnership allowed Spooky CSRA to grow into the largest single food drive in the region.
After 21 years of service, It’s Spooky to Be Hungry founder Evelyn Browne formally passed the torch to Golden Harvest Food Bank in 2013. Golden Harvest will ensure that the legacy built during 21 years of service will continue to grow and help the hungry in our community.
Where It’s Spooky to be Hungry Began
It’s Spooky to Be Hungry was founded in 1992 by Evelyn Browne. It
started with only a handful of volunteers in aRochester, Minnesota neighborhood.
Coming to Augusta
When Browne’s husband, a military doctor, was transferred to Fort Gordon
in 1995, her family relocated to Augusta. She brought It’s Spooky to Be Hungry with her, starting the food drive in threeColumbia County neighborhoods.
Becoming a Non-Profit
Spooky began to reorganize to better accommodate its rapid growth, incorporating as a tax-exempt non-profit charitable corporation, under the name“Big Changes Start Small, Inc.”
National Recognition
Spooky won national recognition as one of the ten best Make A Difference Day projects by USA WEEKEND magazine.
Achivements
For the second year in a row, Spooky was nationally recognized as one of the top ten Make A Difference Day projects among thousands of volunteer service efforts across the country.
We were also featured in Southern Living magazine, increasing our visibility beyond the CSRA and leading to inquiries from across the Southeast about starting new Spooky chapters.
Several new chapters were established across the country by Augusta-area Spooky volunteers who carried the mission with them to new communities. We also received trademarks for our corporate name, Big Changes Start Small, the Spooky name, It’s Spooky To Be Hungry, and our logo.
Expansion
The Spooky CSRA Chapter redesigned its organizational structure to accommodate its remarkable growth, partnering with Golden Harvest Food Bank, the recipient of the Augusta area Spooky collection. With access to the resources of a much larger organization, Spooky was able to grow without investing inexpensive professional services. The two organizations remained independent entities but worked together to pursue complementary missions.
Spooky expanded to 12 total chapters from North Carolina to Mississippi.
Evelyn Passes the Torch
After 21 years of service, It’s Spooky to Be Hungry founder, Evelyn Browne, formally passed the torch to Golden Harvest Food Bank in 2013. Golden Harvest will ensure that Browne’s legacy will continue to grow and help the hungry in our community.
Virtual Food Drives
Following the COVID-19 pandemic,It’s Spooky to Be Hungry pivoted, introducing virtual food drives to the campaign, a new concept to support the Food Bank at a distance.
The Johnston’s Contribution
Golden Harvest received a transformational $1 million gift from Rob and Pam Johnston that will strengthen and expand the It’s Spooky to Be Hungry campaign over the next decade. The Johnstons’ gift will be invested as an annual $100,000 match for It’s Spooky to Be Hungry.
In 2025, Spooky raised more than $530,000.
Our Mission and Vision
Golden Harvest Food Bank is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization that provides food to those in need. Our Mission is simple: To transform lives by feeding our hungry neighbors today and building a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow. Our Vision is to eliminate hunger in our communities. For more on our work, visit www.goldenharvest.org.
Golden Harvest Food Bank will continue to operate It’s Spooky to Be Hungry® according to the principles it was founded upon – a neighbor-to-neighbor, volunteer-driven, child friendly event that builds community and feeds the hungry.