news article
Baldwinsville First welcomes 600 community children to their annual trunk-or-treat
October 29, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Sunday Oct. 28 was rainy and cold in Central NY, but that did not stop Baldwinsville First United Methodist Church from putting on an awesome trick-or-treating alternative event. For nearly a decade, Baldwinsville First UMC has put on a trunk-or-treat event and has welcomed the community to come to the church for trick-or-treating at decorated car trunks in their parking lot. When the weather calls for rain, they simply change plans and bring the trick-or-treating inside and decorate doorways instead of trunks.
The Rev. Susan Ranous is a member of Baldwinsville First. She was handing out treats to the children who attended the event. She said, “We have been doing this event for several years now. Our Christian Education team decided to start this event as they noticed fewer and fewer people felt comfortable with their children trick-or-treating. They wanted to provide a safe place for people to trick-or-treat and what better place than the church.”
Rev. Ranous also explained that in addition to welcoming several community children to a fun event, the church was also collecting canned goods for the food pantry as well as donations for the United Methodist Committee on Relief to help with recent hurricane damage.
Frankie Weaver is the Christian Education Director and mother of three children who attended the event. She said, “I am so im
pressed with the number of people who have come out despite the horrible weather. Yesterday, we made the decision to hold this indoors because of the weather forecast and people had no problem switching gears to decorate doorways instead of trunks.”
Frankie added, “This event seems to grow every year. Last year we had over 200 and I am so glad that this year, we have over 500 so far.”
The Baldwinsville Police Department decorated the final doorway of the trick-or-treating stops. Sargent Chrissy Allen and Police Officer Bob Thibault represented the department. Officer Thibault said, “This is such a great event. I love seeing the different costumes and people are just so kind and thankful for our participation.”
Frankie also explained the Baldwinsville First youth were a big part of making the event so successful. In addition to over 20 trick-or-treating stops throughout the hallways of the church, there were games and crafts held in Fellowship Hall as well as church members serving delicious homemade cookies, treats, and apple cider.
The Rev. Bill Mudge, appointed as pastor at Baldwinsville First in July, experienced this event for the first time. Rev. Mudge his wife Shari, and daughter Hannah were handing out treats at one of the doorways. He said, “Everything this church hosts is wonderful. Having been at a church for several years before becoming D.S. (of the Adirondack District), I was wondering what it would be like becoming a part of a different church and it has been great. People have been so welcoming and kind to my family and me.”
Baldwinsville First also hosts a Christmas Bazar leading up to Christmas for children to shop for their parents and they host an Easter egg hunt before Easter. Does your church welcome your local community to fun and creative events? Let us know by writing us at news@unyumc.org.