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More Than Candy

Updated: Oct 4

Trick-or-Treat Network Builds Trust, Joy, and Belonging in East Oak Lane.


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Everyone Has a Role to Play


We need you! Please sign up to volunteer for our Trick-or-Treat Network

See end of article for sign up sheet


The network is designed to be accessible and inclusive, with multiple ways to participate. Residents are encouraged to:


  • Give out candy at their homes

  • Decorate their porches and enter the House Decorating Contest

  • Dress up and join in by entering the Costume Contest

  • Volunteer as walking group leaders

  • Donate to help cover the cost of candy, decorations, and safety supplies


Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to get involved. You don’t need to have a big budget or a lot of time, just a willingness to be part of something special.


The Network in Action

This Halloween, the streets of East Oak Lane won’t just be filled with goblins and giggles, they’ll be full of something much deeper: trust, joy, and connection.


The inaugural Trick-or-Treat Network, organized by local nonprofit Community Made, is turning Halloween into a neighborhood-wide effort that blends spooky fun with a powerful vision for collective care.


At the heart of the event is a simple idea: everyone deserves to feel safe, and connected, especially on nights like Halloween.


“We’re not just handing out candy, we’re building a network of neighbors who look out for each other. This is about showing up for our kids, for our elders, for each other.”


A Halloween That Works for Everyone

Recognizing that not all parents are available on Halloween night—due to work schedules, transportation limitations, or caregiving responsibilities, the Trick-or-Treat Network includes volunteer led walking groups. These trusted adults will guide kids safely through the mapped out route of participating homes.


“There’s something really powerful about knowing your neighbor is walking your kid around when you can’t be there. That’s the kind of community we want to build. Where people step in, not because they have to, but because they care.”

Families will meet at a central starting point, creating a shared moment to kick off the festivities, review safety information, and foster a stronger sense of togetherness before groups fan out across the neighborhood.



Building Trust, One House at a Time

“Showing up this year sends a message. It tells kids, ‘You matter.’ It tells neighbors, ‘You’re not alone.’ And it shows our community that connection is possible, block by block.”

This first year is about more than logistics, it’s about culture change.


For some people, it’s been years since they felt safe knocking on a neighbor’s door. We want to change that. We want to live in a neighborhood where people wave, say hello, and notice when someone’s light hasn’t been on in a while.


That’s why participation is so important, not just to make Halloween magical, but to set a precedent for what neighborliness can look like year-round.



Get Connected



The Trick-or-Treat Network kicks off at 5:00 PM on Halloween Night, October 31st at Ellwood School Yard. Costumes encouraged. Community spirit required.


This is just the beginning, Let’s make it count.

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