Centre News

On Thursday, Oct. 28, the Centre community welcomed local
trick-or-treaters to campus for candy, haunted house visits,
Halloween games and more.

All of the children who participate seem to enjoy the many
Halloween activities. Sara Small, who is organizing the C.A.R.E.
Trick-or-Treat night, says, “It’s such a cool feeling when you look
around and see so many Centre students involved and all the kids
in costumes enjoying themselves.”

With Halloween just around the corner, the Centre College community has once again held the annual C.A.R.E. (Centre Action Reaches Everyone) Trick-or-Treat event. Students, faculty and staff recently donned their finest costumes; decorated dorm rooms, Greek houses and other campus buildings; purchased numerous pounds of candy to distribute to local children; and generally got into the Halloween spirit.

For the event, which took place on campus on Thursday, Oct. 28, local children and their parents were invited to campus for trick-or-treating, games, haunted house visits, a costume contest, a dance performance and more.

Michelle Balaklaw, one of the many Centre students who participated this year, says what she enjoys most about the yearly event is “how happy we make children by offering this. We have so many booths set up, and children who might not get the opportunity to go trick-or-treating are able to walk through and participate in tons of activities, such as face painting, cookie decorating, pumpkin decorating and cotton candy. It’s the full Halloween experience, and the kids have an amazing time!”

C.A.R.E. member Kate Wintuska believes that the Trick-or-Treat event is a special activity that brings together the Centre and Danville communities for an evening of fun.

“Centre has proven that service is an integral part of its culture, on and off campus,” she says. “C.A.R.E. helps to develop this culture by providing fun, meaningful opportunities for Centre students to interact with and serve the local Boyle county community. For example, the Trick-or-Treat night provides a fun, safe way to celebrate Halloween and provides many activities that traditional trick-or-treating doesn’t.” Reaching out the local community for this event, Wintuska says, has been one of her favorite aspects.

“By creating and distributing promotional materials, C.A.R.E. was able to help invite Centre’s community partners—Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girls on the Go, Guys on the Go, Salvation Army, Wilderness Trace Child Development Center, Jennie Rogers After School Program and Centre College After School Program, among others—and their clients. Being able to help facilitate this evening is a blessing and always a learning opportunity.”

Nearly 25 student organizations volunteered to set up booths and organize activities for this year’s event, which was organized by Sara Small ’11. “I really enjoy getting to see the kids come out and enjoy themselves on Centre's campus,” Small says. “It’s such a cool feeling when you look around and see so many Centre students involved and all the kids in costumes enjoying themselves.”

Balaklaw agrees. “The entire Centre community loves participating in the events and helping in the community, and I think the Danville community is very thankful for this enthusiasm to spread service not only throughout Centre, but the entire city of Danville as well!”