Charitable causes balance out common October events

In the last couple days of October, the topics of conversation always tend to be superficial, generally consisting of popular Halloween costumes, on-sale candy, what football game is on TV and who will be tailgating at the Vandal home game, if there is one.
But this year charity is among the happenings on the Palouse.
At nearly every home football game there has been a food drive where people tailgating were able to donate non-perishable food items to the Troy Food Bank. Saturday’s game against Hawaii will be no different with the drop-off planned to be at the north practice field from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Setting up a food drive where people already plan to spend the day outside enjoying football, is a great way to integrate sometimes superficial conversations with charity. It’s a good cause for Vandal fans to participate in and shifts some of the focus away from getting drunk in a parking lot.
Tailgating is not the only hotspot to collect food. The Theophilus Tower trick-or-treat event will also collect canned food and provide a safe place for children to enjoy Halloween.
Children will be allowed to start at the top of the dorm and work their way down to collect candy, participate in cake walks, pumpkin painting, a haunted basement and other games. The only cost is one canned item per child.
It’s great to see college students involved with providing for both a common charity, as well as demonstrating a positive example for children. Volunteering and participating in an event that is fun and safe for children is a true testament to the maturity of those involved.
Halloween is a holiday many children look forward to because it is fun for them to dress up in cute or gross costumes that they think are just so cool. This view point of Halloween is a pretty big change for college students who would rather dress promiscuous and scantily.
To support a child’s excitement for the fun of Oct. 31 is something we should be proud of and encourage. An activity as simple as trick-or-treating in a dorm can be a huge deal for someone who is in elementary school, not to mention they typically think college students are a big deal — you’re a rock star in their eyes.
Traipsing through a haunted house can be just as cool as trick-or-treating college students, and for those who visit The Harvest Haunted Barn and Trail, can include a donation to the American Cancer Foundation. The donations collected at the haunted barn are coordinated and given to the foundation through the University of Idaho/Latah County Relay for Life.
Regardless of the event or the charity, the fact that college students and other community members are focusing on more than the superficial October events is a step in the right direction.
This year don’t just worry about who is grabbing the beer for tailgate or what costume you’re going to wear, remember to ask who is going to grab the extra cans of food, too.
— ER

About the Author

Elizabeth Rudd Editor-in-chief Senior in journalism Can be reached at [email protected] or 208-885-7845

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