Sweet Return
'Clearly, the event was a hit!" – Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ 'Trunk or Treat' organizer Sheila Gould
Neighborhood children got more than their fill of sweet treats at Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Community College on Friday, Oct. 29. The college's annual pre-Halloween 'Trunk or Treat" event gave them an abundance of eye candy as well.
Nearly 40 Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ clubs, departments, programs, area businesses and community groups participated, decorating vehicles with Halloween-themed displays featuring pirates, monsters, Muppets, super heroes, Charlie Brown, bats, zombies, ghosts, creepy veterinarians, Star Wars characters, Super Mario Brothers, Little Shop of Horrors, The Sandlot, Harry Potter, Curious George, mummies, clowns and more.
Organizers estimated that some 2,000 to 3,000 children – plus their parents – attended the two-hour celebration, which was organized by the Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Education Department and Student Activities.
"Clearly, the event was a hit!" said Sheila Gould, program director of Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ's Early Childhood Education program. "We were thrilled to be able to offer this popular community event again after missing last year."
Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ started "Trunk or Treat" in 2017 as a safe, fun, and early alternative to traditional trick-or-treating on Halloween night. The 2020 event was cancelled because of COVID-19.
Outside of Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ programs, clubs and departments, vehicle sponsors included Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Chicks with Sticks, Dean Technical High School, Farmasi by Brittany, Center School/Positive Regard Network, the Teachers' Lounge @ Elms College, Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Public Schools Early Childhood program, the Valley Opportunity, the Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ YMCA, CHD/Mental Health Services, YWCA of Western Mass., Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ-Chicopee-Springfield Head Start, Brianna Santucci and Co., the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Mass., Little Ladies and Mom, the Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Police Department, the Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Fire Department, Suri Ramos at Real Living, Jan's Flower Shop, Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Dept. of Children and Family Services, the Provencal family, and the Peraltas.
Awards were given out to the best vehicle displays:People's Choice: Jan's Flowers -(Little Shop of Horrors); EEEW Award: Dean Technical High School (Creepy Careers); Most Interactive: The Center School -(Sesame Street); Scariest Trunk: Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Veterinary & Animal Science Dept. (Creepy Vet Visit); Most Original : Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Education Department (Camping); Best Costumes : Farmasi by Brittany (Movie Theater); Best Executed Theme: Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Admissions (Pirates of the Caribbean); Best Treats: Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Anime Club (Pirates).
PHOTOS by CHRIS YURKO: (Above) The Ώμ²¥³ΙΘΛ Veterinary & Animal Science Dept. won the award for Scariest Trunk with their vehicle theme Creepy Vet Visit. (Thumbnail) A young girl dressed as a bumble bee claims some candy.
