TRUNK OR TREAT 2015
Last year, we were so thrilled to be able to take Everly and our two boys to the Special Needs Fall Festival at Van Dyke Church in 2014. This annual festival is a night filled with music, crafts, games, bounce houses, trick or treating, costumes and food. It was so meaningful for us to be able to attend such an event where we fit right in with the masses. The night has become a cherished memory in our family now. So much so that we wanted to reach out and see how we could join in this year.
Lucky for us, the Special Needs Ministry jumped at our offer to join in with them this year by offering to host a brand new portion of their festival…Trunk or Treating! It was such an exciting new venture for us to be a part of this “special” evening. Our team of Angels graciously volunteered their time to create fun and fabulous trunks, handing out candy and smiles. Over two dozen cars, trucks and SUV’s gathered to offer a unique—and special needs friendly--alternative to traditional trick or treating. Themes included a wide mix of ideas…from A Hawaiian Luau to The Great Pumpkin Patch, Charlie Brown and from an outdoor camping experience to Star Wars and a little of everything in between. Many of our special needs friends have unique challenges that make traveling from house to house less than ideal.
The best part of the evening was most certainly seeing the pure joy on the participants faces! They grinned from ear to ear the whole evening. Parents proudly pushing their children, some adults, in their decorated wheelchairs. Children participating in the interactive games behind the trunks, giggling as they throw the rings at the luau toss. It was certainly a privilege for us as a team to work alongside the Van Dyke special needs ministry, many of whom joined us with our trunks, to serve God's special friends.
The Trunk or Treat evening combined with the other festivities of the event made for a wonderful evening!
We look forward to many more opportunities to shine the light of Jesus with our special needs friends!