YMCA of Greater Dayton

Schools host 'Trunk-or-Treat' as an alternative to visiting strangers' homes

DAYTON — It was the start of a Beggars Night tradition.

Neighborhood organizations, hoping to forge a bond with the community, lured trick-or-treaters to the Cleveland PreK-8 School on Tuesday with trunk-loads of candy in the first "Trunk-or-Treat."

More than 400 trick-or-treaters stopped by the school on Pursell Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m. to grab candy out of the dozen or so eerily-decorated cars displayed in the parking lot.

"We got the 'Trunk of Horror' over here," zoot-suited Dayton library employee Kevin Delecki said as he manned his minivan, which was covered with cobwebs and skulls.

"Because we want people to be scared when they think of the library," Delecki said.

The Justice sisters stopped by for the extra candy and to show off their super powers. Gabrielle, 6, was Wonder Woman. Claire, 4, was Supergirl.

Their mother, Tess, signed up to win an iPod in a raffle sponsored by The Shelter Community Church.

Dayton Public Schools, the Greater Dayton YMCA and other organizations sponsored the event.

Gayle Horton, executive director of the Greater Dayton YMCA's Neighborhood Development Center program, said "Trunk-or-Treat" was created to provide a safe place for families to go for Beggars Night.

It was also a good way to use the city school district's neighborhood school centers. Kiser PreK-8 School on Leo Street also held a "Trunk-or-Treat" from 4:30 to about 6 p.m.

"This way, families don't have to go to houses you don't know," Horton said.