Residence Hall Association hosts annual Trunk or Treat for local community

The Saint Mary’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) hosted Trunk or Treat for the second year in a row on Wednesday, which allow local children an opportunity to trick-or-treat at student-decorated cars.

The rain kept students confined to tables, where they passed out candy for the families of professors and students.

Trunk or Treat first came about after dorm trick-or-treating was canceled due to security concerns, senior business major and president of RHA Lucia O’Quinn said in an email. O’Quinn said RHA goes through an extensive planning process to ensure Trunk or Treat stays safe and fun.

“The Exec Members start planning for it in mid-August (setting the time, date and renting the space in mid-summer/late spring) and the committee continues to work on it as soon as they have their first meeting in mid-September, as it is one of the first official RHA Events function of the semester,” O’Quinn said in the email.

Various members of the Saint Mary’s community come together in the planning and execution of Trunk or Treat, she said.

The Saint Mary’s administrative team, security department and student volunteers all play crucial roles in the process. The administrative team helps set the date and time, security ensures a safe environment and volunteers “help create a great experience for the children and families of the community,” O’Quinn said.

In such a way, she said Trunk or Treat is a way to help raise student morale and offer a new way to give back.

“After having the cancellation of the annual dorm trick-or-treating, many students and parents were saddened [by] not having that event to look forward to,” O’Quinn said. “We thought it would be a great way to bring back this event to the community in a safe environment, and to have the students give back to those who have given so much to help with our education and growth.”

Other clubs participated in Trunk or Treat or held events to celebrate Halloween on the same day as Trunk or Treat. The Saint Mary’s Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SMAACS) hosted their annual Halloween Spooktacular, and other clubs such as Belles Against Violence (BAVO), Circle K, Dance Marathon, Love Your Melon and the Little Sibs RHA Committee set up tables for trick-or-treaters.

President of Circle K, junior Carina Garza, said Trunk or Treat presents a way to engage with the community.

“It’s a chance for us to be able to have a connection,” Garza said. “Not only with faculty and staff in the area, but with the community as a whole and commuter students who can bring their families.”

Garza stressed the importance of Trunk or Treat for the Saint Mary’s community as a whole.

“Students in general don’t go out into the community unless they do service projects,” Garza said. “This is a chance for kids who don’t normally have the opportunity to come through the Saint Mary’s community and interact in a positive way.”

Trunk or Treat is especially important for Circle K, she asserted.

“It’s something that’s a collaboration of Saint Mary’s College and the community and that’s what we’re all about,” Garza said.

O’Quinn said she has high hopes for the future of Trunk or Treat.

“Personally, I would really love to keep this as an ongoing SMC tradition, as it helps foster a greater sense of community within SMC and the rest of the tri-campus collective,” O’Quinn said. “Last year we had an amazing turn-out for it being the first year. We hope to have the same turn-out if not more, and definitely hope to have more students attending. Many more students have volunteered to take part in the festivities this year and we are extremely grateful for that.”