Gimme some sugar.
Posted: October 31, 2006 Filed under: Uncategorized 6 Comments »I’m on the front porch, listening to the crickets chirp and steadying myself for the onslaught of greedy little, I mean adorable little kids (and not so little kids) in costume (or not). They’ll come by and stick out their bags or their plastic pumpkins or their pillow cases (can you imagine?) wanting candy. Lots and lots of candy. Some won’t even ask for it. They’ll just stand there. Many (and I mean many) won’t thank for it either.
By the time the night is over, we’ll have handed out about 400 pieces of candy. In our subdivision, there are about 150 houses. That means that our neighborhood alone will distribute 60,000 pieces of candy. Figure 30 pieces per bag and that’s 2,000 bags. At $2.50 per bag, we’re talking $5,000 worth of candy.
And that doesn’t take into account the other Halloween accoutrements around here. But back to the candy…
Let’s just say that the whole neighborhood got together and decided to use that $5,000 for something else. Not only would we save some tears over stomach aches and dental appointments, we could do something good.
For every $1 contributed to the Maryland Food Bank, they are able to provide the equivalent of between 6 and 9 meals to Maryland’s needy families and individuals. So that 5 grand could provide as many as 45,000 meals to our less fortunate neighbors.
I know, I know. Everyone loves Halloween. Well, everyone but me.
And while I admit that I am almost enjoying sitting out here on this beautiful fall night, I still am consumed with the gluttony and greed that surround this day.
Wendy, I think you and I are soulmates. I don’t much like Halloween…for all the same reasons. Besides, it isn’t even safe for kids to take candy from strangers. Uh, isn’t that what we teach our children? I’m with you, let’s get our priorities straight, and put the money to good use. Society gets so carried away with “tradition” that nobody ever stops to think that there could be another way to do something. (I’ve always felt that I would vote HANDS DOWN for the next candidate who ran a campaign on a dime, and donated the rest of the money to fix our schools) But that’s me.
Paula L.
Wendy,
You’re so right when you say that some kids just stand there, say nothing and just open their bags or pillowcases to get the loot. It’s pretty disgusting.
But I do know of homeowners here in Toronto’s suburbs who go on mad rampages decorating their home exteriors and interiors to the hilt — and request and get donations for local cancer hospitals when people view the homes. It’s a nice means of fundraising…
$2.50 a bag of candy? I’m moving to your neck of the woods. We paid almost $9 for 70 mini bags of licorice to give out.
Hey Wendy-
Thanks for the reality check! $25 spent on candy for last night and now $25 donated to the MD Food Bank. Thanks for the link! Very quick and easy to make an online donation!
I feel better now!!!! (or, at least I will once this chocolate tummy ache goes away…)
That is so funny – I feel exactly the opposite. I have said so many times today that aside from the $$ spent on candy (which is miniscule compared with the ridiculous consumerism of Xmas or Hannukah) that Halloween is very sweet. The young kids, for once, get totally creative with their costumes, gather with their friends and spend the night running around and having fun (instead of in front of the TV or computer). The smaller kids are soooo cute in their little costumes – and sometimes it’s the only time I see them all year! Three of my littlest neighbors went from infants to toddlers between the last two Halloweens! I caught up with their parents and we said “ah, we should do this more often,” but we don’t. I loved last night – it was beautiful outside and everybody was smiling and walking around in costumes. True – it would be better without the candy, but at least it’s not an IPOD or a bunch of cheap toys that will never be played with. And anyway, when else do I get to paint anything I want on my face?
An interesting perspective. I still cant help but enjoy it…my own memories of Halloween are so happy, and I just love watching the neighborhood kids get out.
Greedy? Sure! People are giving out FREE candy!!!!!
I often thought about Christmas, what if EVERYONE in the U.S., one year, gave money or time to charity instead of buying Christmas presents.
The economy would probably collapse. But all you have to do is look at the ridiculous gift items in stores (foot massagers, “tranquility” fountains, etc) to see how it is. Really, do most people really “need” anything else?