(Our jack-o-lanterns since real pumpkins don't last in an apartment)
I was shocked. I had no idea that loads of parents out there either traded their kids candy for a present (the "Switch Witch", kinda like the Tooth Fairy) or simply threw out most of the candy. Like Christopher, I find this a shocking and disgustingly wasteful practice. ALL THAT PLASTIC... in the landfill.
I am not really a fan of Christopher's suggestion of moving away from Trick or Treating though... mostly for selfish reasons- I just love it so much! My ideal wish would be that we would move towards giving more environmentally sustainable and homemade treats... but I'm realistic: most of us are too paranoid about urban legends of needles and poison for this to happen.
Instead, I think it would be a fantastic option to get children involved in donating some of their candy. Donating allows children the opportunity to start thinking about privilege, how to give back to their community and the importance of a society that helps each other. It also allows you the opportunity to chat about local organizations that may need their help, which gives them the knowledge and power to choose for themselves which organization they'd like to support.
Some options in Halifax for donating candy:
1. Feed Nova Scotia: They have confirmed that they most certainly take candy donations. They accept donations at their office or at local drop off boxes at Sobeys and Superstores.
2. Women's Transition Houses: Bryony House accepts donations on Thursdays between 1-3pm. I think it may be a nice gesture for those children who may not have had the opportunity to go out trick or treating this year.
Other options:
3. Local Hospitals: Sometimes the children's wards may accept candy donations. Unfortunately the IWK in Halifax does not.
4. Local Food Banks
Do you have ideas on where parents could donate Halloween candy? Please share in the comments!
I am also annoyed by people who send their kids out trick or treating and then throw out/trade or otherwise dispose of the candy.
ReplyDeleteGet a life, people.
If you don't want your kids to eat candy then don't send them out to trick or treat. My generation all went out trick or treating and - believe it or not - most still have our original teeth and are otherwise healthy.
Mind you, I was a kid back in the day when most of the treats were apples (sans needles), peanuts in the shell or, (my favourite) Halloween kisses. My kids also ate Halloween candy and have not a cavity between any of them!
Then again, we only carried small baskets - not pillowcases - so our hauls were small.
Still - childhood passes so quickly. Let kids be kids and enjoy it.
in the past we put candy that wasn't popular in the food bank box at superstore
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine does a variation of trick or treat that she calls trick or trade. Instead of just taking candy her kids take 1 candy and offer the person that gave them the candy to choose one of the candies that they have. I think this is awesome, because it makes the relationship reciprocal, not just about taking and greediness (more more more!!). And the humility that it takes to let someone you may not know go through 'your' candy and take one- that's a good lesson to learn!
ReplyDeleteMy how times have changed. When we were kids we go to keep and eat all of our candy. You could also just bring some of it into work.
ReplyDeleteI think donating candy is a great idea. And a much, much, much better one than throwing it away- Christopher
ReplyDeleteshoeboxes for operation christmas child?
ReplyDeleteWow. I've never heard of candy being tossed unless it seemed suspicious. Everyone I know just tends to ration the candy over a period of time. In my neighbourhood I was surprised to have kids come to my door, already sucking on lollies. My mother would have had a fit at me for doing that... even in an age when people still gave out homemade candy apples (most of which my Mom tossed unless we really knew the person who made them - which is the only time I've heard of candies being tossed - then and now). I'd be sad to know that I went out and bought all these goodies, decorated the house etc for my neighbourhood kids only to have it all tossed, especially since it's so wasteful and un-eco as a holiday!
ReplyDelete