Trick or treaters to ask for food for needy

PORT CLINTON — The youth group at Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish will be doing something a bit different when they don their Halloween costumes this month: Instead of asking for candy treats, they’ll be asking for nonperishable food items.

The donations will be given to the church’s soup kitchen for distribution to the poor.

As a backdrop to the event, the students have been learning at church about hunger in the community.

“We’ve been looking at the social justice arm of the program. We want to be more involved in community service and helping people,” said Youth Director Stephanie Hunker. “We want to get more involved with the soup kitchen.”

During a recent Sunday morning lesson, the teens learned about the difficulties of balancing a budget with a limited income. Hunker prepared a buffet of food for the kids to eat, and they had to purchase the items with pretend money. The students were given varying amounts of money to spend, from 50 cents to $5.

“Some of them blew it all, and some had money left over. I told them, ‘See that person? I only gave them 50 cents to spend. Why don’t you share with them?’” Hunker said.

Some of the kids thought the process was fair and comfortable.

“It was easy, because I know how to save,” said Jacob Fleck.

Others felt restricted by their budget.

“I felt limited in my choices of food,” said Andrew Fillmore. “I had to spend my money in an effective way instead of being greedy and buying whatever I wanted.”

That was the kind of lesson Hunker was hoping the teens would learn. She wanted them to step outside their comfortable lives, if only for a moment, and think about the impact of poverty and hunger.

Hunker asked them what they could do to make a difference in the lives of the needy. Several said they would donate money or food, and some said they would be more willing to participate in fundraisers that benefit the needy.

“I would send money to the poor and send food to the people fighting across seas,” Fleck said.

Hunker oversees about 150 kids in middle and high school, and hopes many of them will be inspired by the lesson to work hard during the trick-or-treat food drive. The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 25 on Alice Street, Jackson Drive and Glenview Drive in Port Clinton.

“It’s our first year, so we’re just starting with a couple of streets for now. I’m hoping it will grow and will cover a bigger area,” Hunker said. “I did this when I was college. We had so much fun doing it.”

If the event draws enough donations, it can help prepare the soup kitchen for the winter months.

“A lot of soup kitchens struggle after Christmas. My hope is to get them stocked up and hopefully be OK for winter,” she said. “I’m hoping this is going to be a lasting tradition. We’re always looking for ways we can reach out to the community and help our brothers and sisters in need.”