It was a ‘free candy for all’ on Halloween night at the Baldwin Place Recreation Center.
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Young families just walked right in for candy at Tillsonburg’s first Trunk or Treat event. Fifteen tables were set up with two, three or four residents in costume handing out candy at each table – it was like visiting 15 homes in rapid succession. And there was free hot chocolate.
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“It was a big success,” said co-organizer Rona Harrison, who has lived in the adult lifestyle community for almost two years, and had noticed Baldwin Place was not one of the town’s popular Halloween neighborhoods.
In a conversation with co-organizer Audrey Weber, Harrison had suggested, “We should encourage the kids to come (for Halloween).”
Weber came up with the unique Trunk or Treat idea, borrowing it from her sister in Detroit.
The plan was to collect donations from across Baldwin Place (284 households) and fill the trunks of a dozen classic cars with candy to be given away on Halloween in the rec center parking lot. It was promoted at area schools.
“We had a ton of donations from the residents,” Harrison said.
Snow and rain prompted organizers to move the indoor events.
“The parents really appreciated it being inside because it was warm and the kids were dry,” said Weber.
“And it was ones-stop shopping for them,” Harrison said, noting any leftover candy would be taken to the Helping Hand Food Bank.
More than 100 children had visited the recreation center midway through the 90-minute event.
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