A number of Halloween traditions are taking the year off, as social distancing guidelines make community classics like trick-or-treating, well, trickier. But some NeighborWorks organizations are finding ways to get their communities together with guidelines intact, like NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (BRV) in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
"It's really important for people to come together in whatever way we're able to do that," says Meghan Rego, director of resource development and communications at NeighborWorks BRV. "We want to come together in the Halloween spirit."
Fortunately, says Rego, they have the infrastructure to bring people together – at a distance – in a plaza outside Millrace Kitchen, funded in part by a NeighborWorks America Project Reinvest grant in 2018. They've already tested it by hosting a series of mini concerts over the past few months.
"Our first show, I didn't even advertise," says Rego, who opted for a "soft launch." "I didn't want an environment where anything could spread." But the show was a success and people kept their distance and their masks on. For this event, NeighborWorks BRV will host a brass band on Oct. 30, playing Halloween staples like "Thriller." There will also be a costume contest (six feet apart, folks) and s'more making.
"People love it," Rego says of the s'mores. Their kitchen team packs Graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows in individual bags. A few people at a time approach the fire with long sticks. "Adults especially tell us 'I can't remember the last time I had one of these,'" she says.
The organization will also host a movie night for the older kids on October 17, shining a spooky movie on the side of a community building. NeighborWorks BRV recently received a Take It Outside grant from the Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce to help them purchase items like the projector and a heater – items that would help them extend the outdoor season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has deemed indoor activities a higher risk than outdoor activities.
In Rhode Island, schools are just starting to add in-person learning for middle and high school students two days a week, and students appreciate the additional social outlet, Rego says. This will be the first movie night.
Next week will likely be spent buying candy and changing lights in the plaza from white to orange to add to a Halloween feel. They're trying to make good use of the space before winter, Rego says.
"While things may look and feel a little different this year, our mission is the same," Rego says. "We're grateful to be able to provide activities that enrich neighborhood life and continue to bring our community together … even if that includes a 6-foot radius."
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10/16/2020
