While sparkly princesses and macho superheroes are gathering tricks and treats on Halloween, St. Thomas University students will be gathering food for a good cause.
STU students participate in the North American food drive, Trick or Eat, by going door-to-door asking for non-perishable food and raising money online. With food costs rising, students hope to collect thousands of dollars worth of food for the STU Food Bank and the Fredericton Food Bank.
“It’s really just giving back to the community,” STUSU Social Issues coordinator, Ben Lord said.
“Everybody eats, right? And how hard is it when you can’t afford to buy food for your family?”
During Trick or Eat, students go to different areas in the city, asking for cans and jars of food.
The collected items will be divided 30 per cent to the STU Food Bank and 70 per cent to the Fredericton Food Bank.
Elizabeth Crawford, from the Fredericton Food Bank, said Trick or Eat is the largest food-drive all year.
“After the summer months it’s extremely difficult. It helps to give a boost to the food budget and to raise awareness,” Crawford said.
The Fredericton Food Bank posted on Facebook they need donations of cereal, canned meat, and spaghetti sauce this week.
Last year, over 150 students collected food valued at $2,800 dollars.
“I believe that it means a lot to the community. It means a lot to [the Fredericton Food Bank] that students of St. Thomas University are willing to take a night and just dedicate it to helping people who are less fortunate,”Lord said.
Before the deadline, 30 to 40 students had registered in person and he expects the number of online registrations to increase within the next few days. They hope 150 to 200 students will register.
The event will take place on Halloween night at 5:30 p.m., but Lord says it’s better to come earlier to “socialize and view the costumes.” After a costume contest, chartered buses will drop off participants around the community. Volunteer drivers will transport the collected food.
“It kinda takes me back to childhood when you were trick or treating for candy, and now we’re trick or eating to help people and it’s so much better.”
Ben Lord is still looking for volunteer drivers. Anyone interested can contact him at [email protected]. Online registration and more information about the food drive are available at www.trickoreat.ca.
