Each year on Halloween, UConn students get dressed up in costume to go out trick-or-treating with the main goal of stuffing their pillowcases with pounds of candy. This year, Hillel at UConn is presenting students with an alternative to trick-or-treating: Trick-or-Canning.
According to Edy Fink, the assistant director of Hillel at UConn, Trick-or-Canning is just like trick-or-treating, except students don't collect candy when they go door to door. They collect cans of food that will be donated to a local soup kitchen or shelter that will be chosen at a later date.
"The idea is that instead of trick-or-treating, students will go out, dressed up and collect cans instead of candy," Fink said.
The goal of the program is to collect as many cans of food for those less fortunate, but at the same time it still gives students an opportunity to dress up in costume and have a fun night, Fink said.
Students who plan on Trick-or-Canning will thank the person they got a can from by giving out cards with candy taped to the back of each card. The back of the card will read, "A Treat for a Treat," according to Fink.
Letters were sent out to the Storrs/Mansfield community asking households to pick up extra cans.
"It's a competition between different teams from different organizations, so a group of students will go out together and will go to local neighborhoods to collect cans in exchange for pre-made thank you cards," said Cayla Smith, president of the Month of Kindness Committee.
Students will go out in teams of three or more, according to Fink, and were asked to sign up by Wednesday, Oct. 18. All students are welcome to participate, but organizations on campus are urged to send members of their group Trick-or-Canning. All participating organizations will have their name printed on the back of the thank-you card.
Trick-or-Canning is co-sponsored by Hillel at UConn, the Month of Kindness Committee and all organizations who participate in Trick-or-Canning. This event will kick off the National Month of Kindness at UConn.
November's "Month of Kindness takes the idea of celebrating as many organizations as possible," Fink said. "It celebrates the kindness of ethics that should be celebrated year round. It's a way of showcasing the university and getting students involved. Without each other, we can't exist. That's the theme of Month of Kindness."
Trick-Or-Canning is one of several events that are held in celebration of the Month of Kindness. One of the reasons for the Month of Kindness is celebrated on campus is to publicize all events that on-campus organizations are putting on, whether or not they have to do with Month of Kindness. The Month of Kindness Committee is putting together a calendar of all events that are taking place in the month of November.
"Hopefully [Month of Kindness] will get kids out there and involved," Smith said.
Jessica Vickery, a 3rd-semester pre-pharmacy major, plans on Trick-Or-Canning on Halloween.
"If the less fortunate have full stomachs, than I'll be full of joy," she said. "This is a great way for college students to give back to the community."
"Trick-Or-Canning will help people realize amazing things happen on campus when people give back to the community," Fink said.
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