With COVID-19 putting a stop to most activities this year, trick-or-treating will still be an option thanks to the Algoma University Students Union.
AUSU banned together to create a makeshift version of trick or treating that maintains tradition while keeping community members safe and still giving children the chance to trick or treat and wear their costumes.
The event will also benefit the community with the donation of non-perishables to AUSU's food pantry.
AUSU’s Drive Through Collection Drive will go from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday Oct. 31, where community members can donate non-perishable items in support of the AUSU Food Pantry - which serves the local community as well as students - while also collecting halloween candy.
“This is the students’ take on Algoma University’s Community Trick or Treat with the new COVID-19 safety procedures,” said Chardon Kovak, communications officer for the Algoma University Students' Union.
“We know that having the traditional event is next to impossible. Just last year we had 1300 food donations and over 3000 attendees. With capacity numbers for the building being what they are, we have most of our staff members working from home which makes it physically impossible to host the event to the degree that it usually has been held. But we’ve been seeing a lot of people doing drive through styles, so we thought that would be the safest option to maintain a sense of community togetherness that we normally get from such an event, while still keeping everyone safe,” she said.
Participants will be asked to enter the school property from Queen Street, where there will be three stops along the way. Non-perishable items can be donated at the first stop, followed by stops to receive Halloween candy and Halloween items safely from their cars. Participants will then be asked to exit through Mark Street to prevent any traffic back up and encourage safety.
“Our volunteers are very excited. A few of them want to dress up and do coordinated costumes. Everybody’s excited to have a sense of normalcy and tradition,” Kozak said.
“Just in case any parents or community members are concerned, all of our staff and volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves as they pass out candy and Halloween items,” she said.
More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page.
