Pinnacle Bank is working to ensure more area children will be able to dress up this Halloween season.

“Right now everyone is strapped for money,” said Jean Kalberer, a personal banker at the Powell branch and organizer of the local drive. “All kids should be able to participate and have a happy Halloween.”

The area banks are accepting donations of new and gently used costumes of any size for the Re-Boo Halloween Costume Drive and Closet through Oct. 18 (donations after that date will be held for next year’s drive. Families will then be able to shop for free children’s costumes Oct. 22-25. Hours are 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 22-23, and 2-4:30 p.m. Oct. 24-25.

The bank is also accepting cash donations to purchase additional costumes.

“I hope we have people show up to get costumes,” she said. “We have quite a few, all sizes, and different things to put together.”

Kalberer said all Pinnacle banks in the state and at least one in Nebraska are particpating in the annual drive. She actually had to run over to Cody to pick up some items from a pickup load of costumes dropped off at that branch. There have only been a few costumes dropped off so far at the Powell location, but she understands it’s tough for people right now.

“This has been a hard couple of years,” she said.

So she is hopeful there will be a lot of families who come by the bank for the free shopping days — she said they’ll even stay open later if they have to those days to make sure everyone who wants a costume is able to get one.

“We have a long history of being an unwavering partner in our communities,” said Dusty Schutzman, president of Pinnacle Bank-Wyoming. “Our employees saw a need and created our Re-Boo Closets, supplying Halloweeen costumes to those eager to enjoy local Halloween events.”