Trunk 'r Treat event to raise funds for Shop with a Hero

Fulton residents lined up Court Street for the trick-or-treat event last year.
Fulton residents lined up Court Street for the trick-or-treat event last year.

Halloween events

Oct. 31: Westminster College's lacrosse team, new this year, will have "Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat," going door-to-door 5:30-7 p.m. up and down Seventh Street and nearby asking for non-perishable food items. All will be donated to the American Red Cross.
A program pairing underprivileged children with emergency responders for a holiday shopping spree will have a fundraiser this weekend.
The Fulton Police Department and Fulton Jaycees are set to host Trunk 'r Treat on Saturday at the Callaway County Fairgrounds.
Sgt. Joe Schramm, a Fulton police officer who organizes the Shop with a Hero event, said the Trunk 'r Treat will raise funds to take underprivileged children Christmas shopping.
"All money raised goes to the Shop with a Hero event in December," he said. "This will be our fifth year doing it. We usually raise anywhere from $200 to $1,000. For the event, we spend $100 per child. This event can allow anywhere between two and 10 kids to be involved in the event."
Shop with a Hero is an annual Christmas event where police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians take children on a shopping spree.
"It gives us the opportunity to take underprivileged children Christmas shopping," Schramm added. "It also gives the children another way to see us in the community. In their eyes, we're not just there when something bad has happened."
In addition to the shopping companion, the children also get the ride of their lives.
"The child gets paired up with an emergency service person," Schramm said. "They ride in the vehicle, and on the way, we let them work the lights and sirens."
The program is part of an effort to help the community and improve relations between community members and law enforcement officials, Schramm said.
"Usually, they only see us when something bad or traumatic is happening," he said. "This shows we're there for other events and that we're regular, friendly people."
Caitlin McGrath, president of the Fulton Jaycees, said this is the first year the Jaycees are involved in the event. She said there will be other activities Saturday night, as well.
"It's a pretty simple event to raise a whole lot of money," she said. "We will have face painting and several booths with small games. We will have music being played, as well, and we will also have a hay ride that goes through the fairground."
This year, there will be a change in venue, McGrath added.
"They used to do it at Walmart, but it became a safety issue," she said. "Sgt. Schramm called and asked if we could host it out at the fairgrounds."
With the shopping traffic at Walmart, Schramm said it became unsafe to have nearly 1,000 kids walking from car to car to collect candy.
"It's not as much traffic," he said. "This way, we're our own event, and we don't have to worry about kids getting too close to the cars."
McGrath said she hopes they will be able to draw more participants than years past.
"Sgt. Schramm told us last year they had between 800 and 1,000 kids," she said. "We really want to surpass 1,000 kids. I'd love to see that."
Along with the Fulton PD, Schramm said other emergency responders from around the county will be at the event.
"I'd like to have as many people as possible come out," he said. "Along with the Fulton Police Department, several other departments in the county will be out, as well."
The gates open at 3 p.m. for those who want to arrive early to set up their car or booth. The event is from 6-8 p.m. Fulton PD officials said attendees to make a $1 contribution for each participating child.