Bringing Trick-or-Treat Back Home
Long-time volunteer Rodney Beldo grew up in Boston’s inner city, and it’s where he’s raised his family. One thing that always bothered him: kids in his neighborhood don’t go out trick-or-treating in their own neighborhood. It’s just too dangerous. So their families bring them to safer areas where the ghosts and witches, the super heroes and fairy princesses, can ring doorbells and fill their bags with candy.
In 2018, Rodney decided to do something about the absence of trick-or-treating in his neighborhood. He worked with other CITC volunteers to set up a block party for kids in the Dorchester/Roxbury section of Boston. Now those little super heroes and fairy princesses were able to scurry around in their own neighborhood, collecting M&M’s and Milky Ways. They were out at night having a fun time with their friends, and it’s safe.
After that first success, not a week went by without one of Rodney’s neighbors coming up to thank him for bringing trick-or-treat to their streets. We ran Halloween in the City again in 2019, but, alas, it was a victim of covid. But we fondly look on it as an instance in which a volunteer with a great idea can run with it and make it happen.
Growing up in Roxbury, I was a gang member. Now I’m a member of the greatest gang on earth, helping make dreams come true for kids in my community.
© 2024 Christmas in the City | Opus Design – Boston Web Design | Deyo Designs Web Development