Trick or Treat for the Hungry
A group of schoolchildren are asked to raise money for an organization which helps the needy. So what's the big problem with helping out in this Halloween charitable activity?
Philip White
Every year at Halloween we did the traditional activity of going door to door "trick-or-treating" or to mascarade partys. When I was in the second grade, for reasons unknown to me, I participated in a "Trick-or-treat for Hunger" experience. This was a way for children to raise money for the purpose of helping needy people. There was obviously adult intervention in this money-raising activity since to this day, I have no idea what the whole thing was about.
I was part of a group of children who met at a church, then divided up into small groups and driven to different neighborhoods around town. There were approximately three to five children in each car. I had the good fortune of being in the same car with a very pretty girl from my school class. Her and I sat in the back seat and had fun talking and kidding each other the entire night. For me, that turned out to be the best thing about the whole evening.
I was amazed when our car got to the neighborhood we had been assigned to! Instead of going to a good, safe area of town, we went to an area I wouldn't normally venture to even in broad daylight. The streets were in poor condition, there were no streetlights, the houses were small and falling apart. The people living there were as needy as the folks we were supposed to be raising money for! I don't know whose idea it was for us to go to this run-down neighborhood... but he should have his head examined!
We piled out of the car and approached the first house on the street. An old couple came to the door. They were excited to see the young children all dressed up in silly costumes. They brought out a big bowl of candy and offered it to us. "Take as much as you want," they exclaimed. The woman who was our group chapperone quickly spoke up, "Children, you know the rules.you are not to take any candy or treats, only money to help the poor." So we had to decline the candy and ask for money instead.
The old couple was so disappointed we wouldn't take any of the candy. It took them a long time to locate some change to give us. When they did find a few dimes and nickles, they still wanted us to partake in their treats. Our leader insisted it wouldn't be right for us to take their candy. When we left their house, it was obvious the old couple was disappointed and saddened.
Amazingly every house we went to had the same effect. The poor people were so happy to see us and so let-down when we left! One old woman spent much time making candied apples and couldn't believe we wouldn't take them.
At several homes, people didn't even have extra cash on hand to give to us. One elderly woman looked for a full ten minutes trying to locate some extra money. When she finally found some, it was only about twenty cents! She apologized for not having more to give and she hoped her 'little bit' would help "those poor people."
With depressing result at every house, our spirits went down and down. We supposedly were doing something good to help people. As it turned out, we felt like we were actually hurting people. After a long evening of driving and walking to so many houses we had only raised a very small amount of funds. I might have only been seven years old but I knew in my heart this whole evening had been a farce. I wondered if the adults understood how absurd this venture had been?
When our group returned to the church, we gathered for a big party with plenty of food and games. This party was supposed to be the 'reward' to all the hard working children who participated in the evenings endeavors. We ate our sweets and tried to have fun with the activities the adults had planned. I'm sure most of the kids felt the same way I did... that this whole "trick-or-treat for the needy" was a big, unsuccessful sham!
That was the only year I ever partipated in anything like that. I never would again. In later years when I heard someone enthusiastically making plans for some similar venture, I would be a spoiled sport and decline any participation. Of course, they felt I was being selfish or uncaring. The truth is I had seen the folly of it and hoped they would have better results than we did. I have since given funds to many groups or needy people but haven't felt the need to be a part of some "organized drive" to raise that money.
E-mail: artistic.1@email.com
Return to the Home Page of "My Art and Travels" Website
