October 25, 2011

Medicine Hat College students may be showing up at your door on Halloween, but they’re not looking for candy. They’re hoping for food from your pantry to help feed those in need.

 

 

At 5 p.m. on Monday, October 31 students will gather at the college to meet and receive a route and driver (if needed). Local high school students will also be joining in, adding to the helping hands that hope to fill the food bank’s shelves.

 

"It is a fun way to involve students in our community," said Andrea Seiler, MHC student recruiter and the coordinator of the event. "They get to experience the volunteer spirit of Medicine Hat firsthand."

 

Students will be in neighbourhoods this week passing out awareness handouts so Hatters are ready for them. The handout lists the non-perishable foods most desired by the food bank: peanut butter, jam, pancake mix, rice, canned meat, oatmeal, juice and single serving meals.

 

On Halloween, the group will return to neighbourhoods in full costume to collect the "eats," which will then be turned over to the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank. And with pride on the line, the groups can compete to see which school collects the most donations.

 

Seiler said groups of MHC students have participated in the activity in the past, but this year is the first all-campus Trick or Eat.

 

"We have a lot of students very excited about it," she said. "I hope we are part of a new Halloween tradition."

 

PACE Rotary Club is also helping coordinate the event. Seiler is still looking for parent volunteers to assist in driving the younger high school students on Halloween. For more information or to volunteer, contact her at (403) 548-0769 or aseiler@mhc.ab.ca.