ASHLAND — There was a monster truck pulling into Ashland City Lot B, which given the Lot’s history, wasn’t that unusual. But it was heading straight for a group of children in costume and they were cheering it on!
The annual “Trunk or Treat” benefiting the Associated Charities Food Bank was in full swing last Saturday, with jacked-up trucks small on the list of sights and activities. Carnival games, face painting, fire trucks, trick or treating from the trunks of cars, costumes, sidewalk paint, mascots, animals, crafts, a dance party, the bookmobile — and that’s just to name a few of the activities.
For the past couple of months, Ashland Girl Scout Troop 1219, along with help from Troop 1756, Troop 1624 from Mapleton and Ashland University’s (AU) G.I.V.S. program, prepared for this charity-based event.
“They worked hard at building games, making baked goods for the bake sale, finding cars and sponsors, etc.,” said Carly Little, who is Troop 1219 co-leader along with Tarah Hall.
All of the carnival games lining the parking spaces of Lot B were completely made from scratch by the troop and volunteers. A lot of time went into hand painting, constructing, thinking of the actual games to play, getting prizes, how to lay it all out in the lot—they even spent hours stuffing envelopes to mail to potential sponsors.
“They put it on as a community service project. We’ve had tremendous support from the community in the past and from many local businesses,” Little said.
Anyone attending could exchange non-perishable food items and other donations at the G.I.V.S. table for tickets to play the games.
AU’s G.I.V.S. organization is a community service group that helps in many ways, “from building houses with Habitat for Humanity to making blankets for local children in need,” as stated on AU’s website.
“This past year was the second year in a row that we have partnered with the local Girls Scouts on this event,” said Jennifer Washock, Director of Orientation and Community Service at AU.
G.I.V.S. has co-sponsored the annual Feed Ashland Food Drive, Clifford Story Time at AU and S’mores Fun at Pathfinders Farm, they have helped at the Akron-Canton Food Bank and put on a celebration at Good Shepherd Nursing Home.
Coming up, they are doing Holiday Mail for the Homeless on Nov. 7, the People Helping People Lunch Service on Mansfield Square on Nov. 11 and a Thanksgiving meal service at Good Shepherd on Nov. 19.
“AU G.I.V.S. and our student organizations love to work with people in our community, so if anyone would like to work together on an initiative or an event, please do not hesitate to contact us,” said Washock.
As the “Trunk or Treat” event continued, candy began raining down from a Jones Rental crane.
“We love doing this, and the candy drop at the end is really fun,” said Todd Hall from the bucket of the crane.
You could even pet a snake, as critters were sent from Gorman Nature Center to further add to the Halloween atmosphere.
Lot B had really been transformed, from when it was a weekend evening meeting spot for trucks, cowboys, farmers, rebel flags and friends some 15 years ago. I remember it well as I had to pick up all the cigarette butts in the lot the next morning. Ahhh, the joys of court-mandated teenage community service. Don’t worry; I was innocent. They just tend to throw the book at you when you date the judge’s daughter.
