By Skylar Mullin
On Halloween morning, dozens of brothers from the University of Maryland’s Alpha Phi Omega fraternity parked their cars at J.C. Nalle Elementary School.
The cars were decorated with large paper eyes and teeth, their trunks propped open and filled with baskets of candy. The brothers, dressed as everything from fairies to vampires to bananas, were ready to greet the kids.
It was time for the school’s annual Trunk or Treat.
J.C. Nalle has been hosting the event for the past decade. It gives students a chance to participate in Halloween activities in a familiar environment, said La’Mont Geddis, the J.C. Nalle Community School Director with the National Center for Children and Families.
“We can kind of be in control over who’s here,” Geddis said. “We get volunteers and people we can trust, and we provide games and opportunities, and provide a fun festive time for Halloween.”
The event has grown to a community-wide effort, Geddis said. Teachers, families, community members and even the Metropolitan Police Department of D.C. come together to put on the event.
Among the volunteers are members of Alpha Phi Omega from the Epsilon Mu chapter at UMD, the national co-ed service fraternity, who organize activities with the school throughout the year.
Senior kinesiology major Lola Sivley said she chose to spend her Halloween morning at the school despite already completing her fraternity’s service-hour requirements.
“It is such a fun event as part of the community,” Sivley said. “I’m still here just because it’s super fun, and we don’t get to see many kids in college.”
Through Alpha Phi Omega, the brothers have also run a pen pal program with the elementary school students. Last year was particularly special for Sivley, who got to meet her pen pal at Trunk or Treat.
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve been writing you letters,’” Sivley said.
Rishima Singh, a junior biological sciences major, and Mia Zandstra, a sophomore elementary education major, were this year’s event organizers. Both are the large-scale service chairs for APO, working with the local elementary school to organize events throughout the year.
While APO members volunteer at Trunk or Treat every year, it doesn’t always fall on Halloween. Singh and Zandstra were concerned about time conflict issues with the brothers.
But on the day, 60 APO members came.
Seven fraternity cars were lined up in the parking lot, and the volunteers set up different activity stations. Brothers gave out candy, did face paint and temporary tattoos and wrapped the brothers and other volunteers in toilet paper like mummies.
The morning started with a group gathering known as Harambe, a tradition at the school for the Saturday school program. Abi George, the school’s site coordinator with the National Center for Children and Families, said the gathering brings children, parents and volunteers to check in with one another.
It includes chants, moments of silence for reflection and time to express themselves before the activities begin. George said that it acts as an intentional reset for the day.
For Singh and Zandstra, it was one of the most memorable parts of the morning.
“It showed so much spirit and community. It was so cool to be a part of,” Singh said.
George said that one of his favorite parts of the day was APO’s presence, especially because he was an APO alumnus, having joined while attending Howard University.
For Geddis, the presence of college students is also one of his favorite things. He appreciates that he gets to watch adults dress up alongside the children.
“Really, it’s called intergenerational community, and that’s what we have achieved during the Trunk or Treat,” Geddis said.
As the morning came to a close, Singh and Zandstra were left satisfied with how smoothly such a large event went. Geddis hopes it continues to grow, bringing in more children and community members in the future.
“I can’t wait to work with the kids again,” Singh said.
Featured Image: Brother Corinne Wasson passes out candy at J.C. Nalle Elementary School on Oct. 31. Photo by Skylar Mullin.