Since 2019, our Goodwill Services Centers have endeavored to engage more with our community. In keeping with this, our missions team focused its attention on a large community event to reach its goal. Capitalizing on the opportunity Halloween affords, the center hosted Trunk or Treat at its Western Avenue facility in Chillicothe.
“When Cana (Horner), our missions coordinator, asked us to come up with a community inclusion event, we specifically knew we had to do a trunk or treat for the kids of our community,” said Melissa Baxter, the Ross center manager. “We worked hard for two months getting area local people and businesses in the community to come and participate or donate candy to the event.”
Community support for the event included the Post Office, the Sheriff’s office, Shine Orthodontics, Old Canal Smoke House and Zion Baptist Church. Roger Bellar provided DJ services and Molly Kunzleman painted faces for the kids. Contributing candy, gift cards or door prizes were Walmart, McDonalds, Family Dollar, Allen’s Pharmacy and Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop.
An estimated 15,000 pieces of candy were given out and close to 2,000 trick-or-treaters served. Horner summed up the success: “We lost count after 1,000 people who came out and enjoyed the event. To me, it was the greatest event Goodwill has put on in 15 years.” She added, “All the individuals had a great time and loved participating in the event by getting to pass out candy as well as dressing up. A large portion of them said they want to do it again next year for sure.”