Last updated on September 30th, 2021 at 10:13 am
Halloween is all about costumes, candy, and fun, but this year you can make it about giving back as well. A great way to teach your kids the value of helping others in need – all while having a blast in their costume of choice – is “Trick-or-Eat,” a Halloween food drive that serves to provide local food banks and community resource centers’ essential food needs. Instead of going door-to-door asking for treats, your family can collect non-perishable food items to help combat hunger in your area.
This is also a wonderful cause for your parents of multiples club or your play group. It’s easy, fun, and you can do it all in your own neighborhood. The essentials for an effective “Trick-or-Eat” food drive are:
1) Find a local food bank or community resource center to support.
Contact your organization of choice well in advance of Halloween in order to assess their specific needs and discuss the timing of your donation drop-off.
2) Designate a day and time for your “event” and notify your neighbors.
The most effective campaigns come from giving your neighbors a little notice. You can alert your community via email, mailbox flyers, or Facebook, letting them know in advance what day and time you’ll be coming by and what type of goods you’re hoping to collect. You can choose to collect food on Halloween, or go out a week or two beforehand (this is easier for little kids). A sample flyer/email might read: “While many of us are focused on collecting candy this Halloween, some people are worried about where their next meal is coming from. To help out, the kids and I will be collecting non-perishable food items (in costume!) on DATE at TIME. Please donate what you can (no glass please). If you will not be home, feel free to leave your donation on your front door or mine. Thank you!”
3) Get your wagon ready.
Canned foods become heavy quickly, so make sure to bring a wagon or something similar when heading out to greet your neighbors (you may need to do multiple shifts). Take it an extra step and decorate your wagon with your kids (or make it part of the costume — think a pirate ship to go along with Jake and Izzy or a rolling rocketship for your little space cadets).
4) Costume time!
Explain to your kids how collecting food will help others in need. Then, put on those costumes and get ready to head out the door (yours is optional). Kids love the opportunity to dress up and ring doorbells, and will have fun watching their wagon fill up with “treats.” Don’t forget to take a few pictures and use these visits as teaching moments for manners!
5) Deliver your donations.
If you’re doing this event as a club, one member’s home can be the designated drop-off location and this person can drive your donations to your food bank. If you’re doing this event with your family, bring your food to your organization of choice as soon as you can.
Have fun sharing these teaching moments and making this Halloween more meaningful for your family and community!
By Cara Krenn
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