Mother Nature may have brought rain showers, but young trick-or-treaters throughout the area were showering in Halloween candy Wednesday night.
One of the hotspots with candy up for grabs was the 12th annual Trunk or Treat event at Grace Lutheran Church, organized by Grace Lutheran and Open Arms Church.
Open Arms’ Alex Davis, connections coordinator, said that the line of kids for the event was large half an hour before the activities started.
“This event gives children and their families a safe way to have fun and trick-or-treat safely,” said Davis.
He added, “This event is about the kids and spreading God’s love throughout the community.”
Not only do kids benefit from the generous amounts of candy they receive, but the community is also safer on Halloween, according to Davis.
“It’s been said before that with this event, (Bradford) sees a decline in crime,” he claimed.
The church had about 20 to 30 vehicles lined up in the parking lot during the evening. Davis’ description of the turnout was no exaggeration, for the line of antsy trick-or-treaters extended from the side of the parking lot next to Mechanic Street all the way to the sidewalk of Pearl Street.
Selene Machuga, coordinator of the Community Life Center at Grace Lutheran, echoed Davis’ words and described the event as a safe and fun way for kids to trick-or-treat.
“People have tons of fun, we have tons of candy. Inside, we have games that have more candy with them. We are also giving away hotdogs and water,” she said.
Although there were hundreds of children donning costumes, Machuga said there was one particular costume that stuck out for her.
“There was a little guy who was inside (a costume) that was a robot and he lit up, so that was really cool,” she said.
Inside the church, kids were playing games to win candy and getting their faces painted, parents were enjoying free hotdogs and water, and all were taking a few moments to get dried off from the rain –– which, luckily, wasn’t too heavy.
The event had a large turnout. Just how large? Davis explained that Open Arms and Grace Lutheran estimated between 3,000 and 4,000 kids this year.
“It’s getting bigger each year,” Davis said.
