By Valerie Fields Hill
School of Social Work
Fall Trunk or Treat Baby Treater
The School of Social Work will host its annual Fall Harvest, Food Giveaway and Trunk or Treat event, which benefits hundreds of Arlington families who live near the campus, this weekend.
The Harvest event will feature nearly two dozen fall-themed and decorated vehicles and kid-friendly, costumed volunteers who hand out candy and treats to children and their families. The event is free and open to all.
The drive-through event also will feature a free food giveaway. Families will receive 30 to 40 pounds of pantry staples, such as rice or beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products and meat during the Harvest activities.
Fall Trunk or Treat Granny
Social Work administrators said the Trunk or Treat event comes as many of the university’s neighboring families still are recovering from the financial effects of layoffs, reduced work hours and COVID-19 medical-related bills.
“This pandemic has been so unrelenting in its lingering effects on so many Arlington families,” School of Social Work communications Manager Antwan C. Williams said. “Our Social Work students work in agencies in which they interact with children and families. They want to help, in any way, to relieve the burdens our neighbors are bearing.”
“We hope to bring our neighbors a little bit of support, joy – and some relief to their budgets – this weekend,” he said.
This year is the second year for the School of Social Work’s annual Fall Harvest, Food Giveaway and Trunk or Treat event.
Last year, School of Social Work students, faculty and staff distributed 500 packages of masks – or 2,500 individual masks – and more than 1,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to families who live in Central Arlington during its inaugural Trunk or Treat event. Families also received more than 12,000 pounds of food at last year’s event.
This year, Williams said, the 100-percent cotton, washable facial masks would again be given away to hundreds of young Trick-or-Treaters.
“We still are in this pandemic,” he said. “We want our families to be as safe as possible. We do not want the cost of a mask to be a hindrance to children’s well-being.”
The Fall Harvest, Food Giveaway and Trunk or Treat event begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, in Student Parking Lot 49, at the intersection of Collins and Mitchell streets, on the University of Texas at Arlington campus.
Fall Trunk or Treat Kid Witch
All attendees must register to attend the event. Attendees must remain in their vehicles while driving through the Fall Harvest, Food Giveaway and Trunk or Treat events. To register, go to https://sswfallharvest.eventbrite.com
