Trick-or-treaters will navigate a vertical neighborhood this weekend as University of Idaho Housing and Residence Life hosts its 37th annual Tower Trick or Treat event from 2-4 p.m. Saturday in the Theophilus Tower.
The event serves as an opportunity for local children and their families to trick or treat throughout the building as well as play games in some of the floor lounges.
Morgan Hanson, residence life coordinator for the Tower, said the event allows Vandals to interact with local residents by volunteering. UI has advertised the event at Moscow elementary schools and through the UI Childcare Center, and siblings and friends of those students are welcome as well.
“The best part of the event is that is allows Tower students and staff to connect with young Vandals by decorating their communities, handing out candy and facilitating games,” Hanson said.
In addition to students connecting with community families, the event helps serve the community in another way. It is free for participants, but there are collection bins for canned goods, which are donated to the Moscow Food Bank.
“TTT is an excellent service to the community, not only because of the safe and warm trick-or-treating option, but because it brings in donations for the food bank at a time of year when donations are often most needed,” Hanson said.
Tower Area Assistant Stephanie Rosen, who also serves as head of the games committee for the event, said she still remembers her experience from last year.
“I brought my prom dress from high school and I was Belle,” Rosen said. “I got lots of hugs from kids excited to see a princess.”
Hanson said its special to get feedback from participants and their parents.
“Last year, one of my staff was dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast and a little girl was convinced that she had seen a real princess and ran directly into my staff member”s arms – it was priceless,” Hanson said.
She stations herself in the lobby so she can see the kids” faces as they enter and leave, and said kids are often extremely excited for the event. She also receives lots of positive comments and thank-yous from parents, who also enjoy the event.
Hanson said she began a tradition last year where every floor in the Tower picks a theme and decorates around that theme. Last year, some of the themes included Legos, Star Wars, Neverland and Candy Land.
Hanson said the trick or treat event takes up to six weeks to plan, and funds must be requested and voted on by the RHA and Community Council members.
The decorations committee created a list of supplies that the floors have requested to have so they can decorate their floors according to their themes.
“It”s a big endeavor, and the students and staff work really hard to make it happen,” Hanson said.
While the event is great for several reasons, Hanson said the excitement that Vandal students bring to the event is what makes it special.
“I had students talking with me about TTT as they were moving into the building in August,” Hanson said. “It has a great reputation and they truly look forward to it.”
Diamond Koloski can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @diamond_uidaho