09/13/2026
HELENA!!! Look How Wonderful You Are!!! Here’s a feel great story for you!
Class of 1976 Reunion Committee Members from both Capital and Helena High reached out to the ScareLadies this summer, each requesting a lady to raffle off during their 50th reunion celebrations. What happened next left even the ScareLadies themselves “quite astonished.”
The Bruins held their reunion August 28–30. Their Bruin ScareLady drew immediate attention, and by the end of the weekend, Capital High’s Class of ’76 had raised hundreds of dollars toward school lunch debt relief, leaving the ScareLadies grateful and proud.
Meanwhile, the Helena High Bengals were watching. Quietly. Calculating. Patiently waiting for their moment.
That moment arrived on September 11, when the Bengals kicked off the first night of their reunion. Fueled by determination, grit, and a healthy dose of Bengal pride, they arrived ready to show the Bruins “who is really #1.” And they did not disappoint.
Not only did Bengals Class of 1976 alumni buy raffle tickets for their own Bengal ScareLady and also pour in donations in impressive numbers, but one Bengal took fundraising to a new level. Borrowing the ScareLadies’ School Bus Lunch Bucket, he passed it around the room, strongly urging classmates to “stuff the bus” with even more donations. The crowd responded with enthusiasm, laughter, and generosity.
By the conclusion of Saturday’s events, a Bengal committee member reported, with unmistakable excitement, that their class had already collected twice the amount the Bruins estimated they had raised.
Final numbers are still pending as each reunion committee tallies receipts and settles expenses, but the early score has certainly caught the ScareLadies’ attention causing tears of gratitude. 🥹
In a twist that adds heart to the rivalry, the Bruins had no idea they were even competing. That, HHS says, is exactly how Bengals operate: cunning, determined, and always ready to pounce.
The ScareLadies’ impact doesn’t stop at Helena’s borders. One reunion attendee from Idaho Falls announced she plans to bring the ScareLadies concept back to her own community, where the policy is stark: No money, no lunch. The idea of helping kids there just as Helena’s community does struck a chord.
Meanwhile, the ScareLadies themselves stand in complete astonishment at the outpouring of generosity, love, and hometown pride. What started as whimsical figures made from reclaimed materials has grown into a movement fueled by compassion for Helena area kids.
If there’s one message the ScareLadies can convey, it’s this: Be proud if you are from Helena, Montana. ♥️
