ASHLAND, Va. -- Chris Minor has become a very popular neighbor along his Stanley Park Drive home in Ashland.
Not so much because of who he is, rather because of what he did.
“This thing has become more popular than I ever imaged it would," Minor said about his DIY project that has neighbors big and small racing to his home.
Perched on his front porch now rests a non-contact Candy Slide.
"It is so simple. But gets the job done,” he said.
The electrical engineer's invention has caused quite a spark.
"Not difficult at all to build. It was very simple to build. All it is PVC, and tape and paint,” Minor said.
The 26-year-old is making the pandemic less scary.
"Before coronavirus I would have never thought to do something like this,” he said.
Not waiting for Halloween. Tiny neighbors make sure the Virginia Tech grad's contraption is primed for October 31.
"Everything that is out there started with a good idea,” he said. “Honestly, I think coronavirus brought out the engineer in all of us."
Parents like Alyssa Griep appreciate Chris' concern.
"I think it is going to be the highlight of trick or treating in our neighborhood,” Griep said. "I think it makes Halloween possible for kids who wouldn't normally be safe in this environment right now."
Beyond Hanover County, the Candy Slide swept through social media.
"So far I'm at 333,000 shares. Which is mind-boggling,” Minor said.
Chris has been featured on news outlets all over the world.
"It has gone everywhere,” he said. “I’ve gotten messages from people in Australia, England, Ireland. I have a friend who has family in Italy. They saw it in Italy."
With so much notoriety, he expects ghouls and goblins to haunt the home he shares with his wife Nicole.
"Right now my candy supply is good, not great. So, I need to stock up before Halloween,” he said. "I'm expecting a big crowd. I am hoping for a big crowd."
Engineering a night to remember, at Chris Minor's home, sugary treats come wrapped with safety in mind.
Chris’ plans to build a non-contact candy slide are available for $5 on Etsy.
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