This year Interfaith Social Services’ Halloween costume distribution program will be open to the public for the first time. In previous years the program was only available to children whose families depended on Interfaith’s food pantry for support.
Every October, for the past three years, Interfaith’s volunteers have distributed Halloween costumes to the children of families who are served by their food pantry. “Giving kids a Halloween costume is just one of the ways that we have found to bring a little happiness to their lives,” said Interfaith’s Executive Director Rick Doane. “In the past our supply of costumes was very limited. This year our Feed the Hungry Gala planning committee rallied to the cause. They asked friends and family members for donations. They canvased social media and every other venue they could think of. The Gala planning committee and many other volunteers collected so many costumes that we are now able to open this event to the community. We know that even though some local families might not need to come to a food pantry for assistance many of those parents aren’t purchasing Halloween costumes for their kids because their budgets are limited. We are trying to help as many of those families as possible. No kid should miss out on Halloween.”
“We live here. We work here. These are our neighbors," said NECN's Ally Donnelly a Hingham resident and Interfaith’s Feed the Hungry Gala co-chair. "Our committee members want to do whatever they can to stop hunger here on the South Shore and to bring happiness to these kids. We can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they find just the right costume.” After 17 years Interfaith’s Annual Feed the Hungry Gala has become a South Shore tradition. Festivities include celebrity chefs preparing mouth-watering offerings, free wine and spirit tastings, fun carnival-style games, interactive raffles, an amazing assortment of auction packages, and more. For more information about Interfaith’s Gala please visit www.feedhungrygala.org.
Interfaith’s food pantry and other programs help South Shore residents address major issues like hunger, mental health and housing. Their various seasonal initiatives such as the Halloween costume distribution, Thanksgiving Meal packages, Christmas Gifts, Easter Baskets and back to school backpacks are just a few of the ways that they have found to serve South Shore children and families in need.
Interfaith’s various community partners have also stepped up to help with costume distribution on October 25th. Dozens of volunteers from Arbella Insurance are sorting all of the costumes in preparation for distribution. Pot Belly Sandwiches of Braintree is supplying sandwiches and cookies to Interfaith’s clients that day. One local business even donated $1,000 to purchase costumes as well as supporting Interfaith’s Feed the Hungry Gala. "We are proud to help Interfaith in its mission of providing support for South Shore families in need," said Aaron Cutler, owner of Planter Hill Properties, a residential real estate brokerage located in Hingham. "We hope our donation will make it possible for many children and their parents to have a fun and memorable Halloween this year."
If you are interested in selecting Halloween costumes for your children please come to Interfaith’s offices from 12:00-2:00pm on Saturday October 25th. Interfaith Social Services is located at 105 Adams Street in Quincy. Costumes are for children twelve years old and younger.
