It was a spontaneous decision to hold a trick-or-treating event for kids in Canatara Park last October, says Houston Silverthorne.
Planning for maybe a month in advance, about 80 cars owners with the Sarnia Street Cruisers set up in Canatara Park for the car club’s inaugural Trunk or Treat event, and prepared for a few hundred youngsters to pass by, he and club co-president Pat Teahan said.
“And we ended up with around 5,000 or so,” said Teahan, recalling how they were overwhelmed by the response.
“So like, ‘OK, clearly there’s demand for doing that around here,’” he said.
Saturday, for the event’s return, the club was better prepared.
Switching to Hiawatha Horse Park to allow for more parking, the 1,350-member club came equipped with at least 140,000 pieces of candy purchased with support from 112 sponsors, said Silverthorne.
That doesn’t include the candy club members brought on their own, Teahan said.
“That’s our goal is giving back to the community,” Silverthorne said about the club that regularly cruises to local businesses to help attract crowds and drive up sales, and fundraises for organizations like St. Joseph’s Hospice.
“Today, what you see here is the community giving back to us,” Silverthorne said about the sponsorship support.
A long lineup of costumed kids and their families wound through the parking lots at Hiawatha Saturday, and made their way visiting costume-clad club members handing out candy from the trunks of their vehicles.
“It’s great,” said Laurie Bosley, there with husband Deacon and their daughters Annalize, five, Amelia, eight, and Abigail, 11.
They drove by last year, but the event at Canatara was a bust by the time they got in, Deacon said.
Saturday, the line moved well and their kids had a great time, the Sarnia couple said.
Non-perishable food donations were also being collected for the Inn of the good Shepherd at the event aimed at youngsters 12 and under, said Silverthorne.
Most seemed excited making the circuit that also included displays from Sarnia Fire Rescue Services, Sarnia police and Preferred Towing, among other attractions, said Teahan.
“All these smiles you see on these faces, that’s why we’re doing it,” he said.