By Lethbridge Herald on October 20, 2023.
Steffanie Costigan
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
On Halloween when the children don their costumes and venture into the community in pursuit of candy and perhaps a trick or two, there will be a group hitting the streets with a different objective in mind. In support of the Interfaith Food Bank, trick or treaters of all ages will be collecting non-perishable food donations as part of the âTrick or Eat Lethbridgeâ campaign.Â
The brainchild of Rebecca Rauda, âTrick or Eat Lethbridgeâ was inspired by an event she participated in while attending university in Victoria, B.C. After learning there was no event similar in Lethbridge, she decided to take matters into her own hands and began organizing the campaign in early October. This year marks the first, of what will hopefully be many annual events, and Rauda says sheâs still looking for volunteers.Â
Participants of all ages are welcome to sign-up, though Rauda notes that anyone under the age of 18 will need permission from a parent or guardian. Registration will be open until Oct.r 24 and participants are encouraged to have a vehicle follow their route or bring a wagon to transport the donations. Routes are anticipated to cover two or three blocks throughout the city and will be assigned to groups of registrants Halloween night.Â
âWe were just thrilled when Rebecca reached out to us suggesting the idea and offering her time to coordinate the drive on our behalf,â says Danielle McIntyre, executive director with Interfaith Food Bank. âWe have had groups run similar Halloween drives for us in the past but havenât managed yet to ensure it takes place consistently, so weâre hoping this might make for a great partnership.â
For those living in neighbourhoods selected by Trick or Eat, information will be distributed next week. Interfaith Food Bank has advised Rauda that their most needed items include cereal, shelf stable milk, pasta and pasta sauce, Kraft Dinner, Hamburger Helper, Sidekicks, as well as other non-perishable boxed meals.Â
âI feel like our world is kind of negative right now, so for me itâs just a way to bring positivity to the community and do something fun,â says Rauda, who is organizing the event in her spare time.Â
She hopes to have groups, both established and made up of individuals, from throughout the city get involved and says the more the merrier. âItâs an easy and accessible way to get involved in giving back to (the) community.âÂ
For more information or to register visit:Â
 https://forms.gle/nfnkvrqbqJWa1H529Â
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