While children across Fredericton put on their costumes and grab their treat bags on Halloween, a group of St. Thomas University students put on costumes of their own in preparation for this year’s Trick or Eat event.
The event that takes place annually on Halloween night, is a food drive organized by STU’s student union that supports the university’s food bank.
Students dress up in costumes and take to the streets, knocking on doors of neighbouring houses and asking if there’s any food they can donate.
“It’s a way for [students] to get out in the community and meet people,” said organizer Becca Osmond. “It’s a different take on Halloween and trick or treating.”
Claire Morrison, campus minister and food bank coordinator, said that it can be a fun opportunity to put yourself out there in a less stressful way.
“I think there’s something about Halloween that lets you step out of your comfort zone because you’re wearing a costume,” she said. “You can do this crazy thing like go to strangers’ houses and ask for pasta.”
While this isn’t STU’s first Trick or Eat event, it may be their most successful. In previous years the event brought in over 20 cans of food, according to Morrison.
The event is partially inspired by Grade 8 students from École Saint-Anne who helped gather over $600 worth of food for STU’s food bank last year. Organizers created flyers and knocked on doors in advance to let homeowners on their Trick or Eat routes know how they could help.
Due to the increase in volunteers, the initial routes were expanded, meaning students could cover more ground and collect more donations.
Kaitlyn Hamming, a second-year student, said that while she didn’t know the exact number, the outcome of the event seemed like “a lot.”
She also emphasized the generosity of the many people she spoke to who checked their pantries for more food and offered volunteers candy for their efforts.
“We weren’t able to put all of it in the food bank itself,” she said. “There was at least, I would say, 35 different bags full of food, minimum.”
Many STU students rely on the campus food pantry for some of their basic needs. Within hours of restocking the shelves, almost half of the supplies can be gone. The importance of this event and the food pantry are even more prominent now with inflation and food insecurity increasing among students.
“We all should be able to study without worrying about filling our bellies,” said Morrison. “We cannot study well if we’re also worried about where we’re going to get our next meal.”
Osmond mentioned that knowing the food pantry is an available resource helps her worry less about her own circumstances.“[It] helps me know that I will be okay if I ever am in that position.”
Morrison said she’s extremely grateful for the students who take the time to take part in events like this one and help give back to their community.
“I feel more and more like the food bank does fill a need that is greater than hunger,” she said. “It rallies the community together and gives them an outlet to love their neighbour.”
