Trick or Treating for Cans

What is Trick or Treating for Cans?

Trick or Treating for Cans is an event where the children of Cross Roads church and friends gather on the Sunday afternoon before Halloween to trick or treat — but instead of requesting candy, we are hoping to collect non-perishable food items to go towards feeding the hungry in our area. We let the neighborhood know we’re coming, and then when that Sunday arrives we gather and Trick or Treat, but for food. The kids get to wear their costumes a second time, serve their community, and learn about living our values rather than just speaking them.

How do I help?

There are two ways to support our service project: if you’re a kiddo and their grown ups, you can join us us fr Trick or Treat or you can provide food, either as someone in the neighborhood we’re coming to visit or by dropping food off to the church.

When?

October 26th from 4-7pm

Are you proselytizing?

Nope! While we are teaching our children that we do things like this because Jesus calls us to care for our community and love our neighbors, we are simply collecting food! There will not be any tracts nor will you be evangelized at, hear any lengthy spiels, or anything else. We’re just living out our faith and sprinkling some fun into the world.

Just cans?

Nope! “Trick or Treating for Non-Perishable Food Items” was even wordier than “Trick or Treating For Cans,” so we went with cans. We will take any non-perishable food item you’d like to donate!

Is this the same event as Trunk or Treat?

No! We have two Halloween events — Trick or Treating for Cans is October 26th and we are going to Holly Ridge to trick or treat. Trunk or Treat is here at the church and on Halloween night for kiddos to provide a safe, fun stop! Feel free to swing by both events though!

And where are the donations going?

We have a bit of a flow chart! Some items are better suited to certain types of food insecurity responses. Cross Roads partners with Pleasant Grove Elementary school to provide food on the weekends for food insecure families through our backpack program. If your offering would best suit those children, we will route that food to the backpack program. If not, we will take it to the food pantry at Breakthrough Community Church in Mebane.

My child would LOVE to Trick or Treat for Cans! How do I get connected?

We would love to have them! We will meet at the church at 3:45 to coordinate or you can meet us at the entrance to Holly Ridge at 4. Email Pastor Kate if you’d like further details!

I don’t live in that neighborhood, but I’d like to support y’all. How can I do that?

We will have a collection available at our Trunk or Treat event on October 31st if you’d like to bring food by, or you can bring it to our worship service on Sunday November 2nd. We'll drop all the food off the following Monday to kick off our Love Your Neighbor November! If you’d like to be a regular supporter of our backpack program, you’re welcome to donate to the church and put Outreach in the subject line.

Okay, but… do you also want candy?

Let’s be honest, children always want candy, do as you will — but they are prepared to not receive candy. They know they’re coming to do something for others and have some fun while at it, so there is zero obligation to provide candy! If you see cute children in costume and can’t resist, that’s fine too.