ANGELA MULLINS
METRO LONDON
Published: October 25, 2011 2:47 p.m.
Last modified: October 25, 2011 2:52 p.m.
Who says trick-or-treating is just for kids?
UWO and Fanshawe are out to prove you’re never too old to have a little fun and do a little good in the process.
Hundreds of the schools’ students will hit the pavement on Halloween, dressed in the best costumes they can muster and collecting items for food banks instead of candy.
The effort is part of a nationwide food drive dubbed Trick-or-Eat. The drive, now in its 11th year, is organized by Toronto-based Meal Exchange, a charity that aims to get youths involved in fighting hunger.
Fanshawe is participating for the first time this year after Emma Newman, the student union’s vice-president of entertainment, heard about the project via email.
Newman has gotten commitments from about 35 people who plan to collect food throughout college buildings and residences.
“Since it is our first year, we’re kind of focusing it (on campus) … before we go fully out in the community,” said Newman, 21. “I think it’s really neat just to take something people already do on Halloween … and do it for a good cause.”
The donations will be divided between the Youth Opportunities Unlimited food bank and Fanshawe’s Sharing Shop.
Items collected by Western students will go to the London Food Bank, said Dave Kranenburg, Meal Exchange’s executive director.
The university’s Meal Exchange chapter has been involved with Trick-or-Eat since 2006. Last year, about 550 students participated, making UWO the second largest contingent of all Canadian campuses, Kranenburg said. The University of Guelph took gold in that category for 2010 with 1,500 participants.
Nationwide, students are leading 90 campaigns this year — up from last year’s 73 — with the goal of collecting a combined $550,000 worth of food and $45,000 in online donations.
“It’s an idea whose time has come,” Kranenburg said. “People want to get dressed up and go out on Halloween and this gives them a reason to do so and give back to the community.”
