By Clyde Noel

Visitors to the Costume Bank in downtown Los Altos are greeted by endless rows of costumes, weird hats and masks hanging against the wall. The shelves are lined with realistically scary-looking animal heads.

The Costume Bank has more than 3,000 costumes for rental, classified into sections such as the Renaissance and different periods in history.

Marion Squaglia, Costume Bank chairman, said things are a little soft this year. There aren’t as many parties and fewer costumes are rented, so they’re having to stir up the action.

“Halloween is our big fund-raiser. Our volunteers have been working every day, making costumes and uniforms for Halloween,” Squaglia said. “We have every type of costume available - including good and bad witches - hanging on the rack.”

The volunteers have expanded the Ad Lib section for people to make up their own costumes. If it’s an animal costume they want, they’ll find its head hanging on the wall.

Cindy Olander, Los Altos resident, has been a Costume Bank volunteer for two years. She loves making costumes and helping people find their costumes.

“Helping people find a costume is a blast,” Olander said. “People are usually happy when they go to a party, and you need to be creative when you work with party goers.”

Tracey Moison, Los Altos resident, has been working at the Costume Bank three years, making costumes and working on the sales floor.

“People don’t want to buy a custom uniform out of a box,” Moison said. “When people go to a party they want to be original and authentic. Last year I went to a New Year’s party dressed as Tina Turner. It’s great being a different person when you go to a party.”

The Costume Bank is a fund-raiser for the Assistance League of Santa Clara County. As one chapter in the National Assistance League, it is a non-profit, nonpolitical and non-sectarian organization dedicated to helping people in the community.

The league offers services ranging from low-cost temporary housing for needy residents, to shoes for children and music programs for visually impaired youth.

Rentals are 48 hours, except at Halloween, when they are Monday to Monday. The most expensive costume is Father Christmas at $100.

The Costume Bank is located at 169 State St. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, with additional hours for Halloween. Volunteers are always welcome.

For information on costumes, call 941-4625 or logon to www.costumebank.com.