As Spooky Season Approaches, Help Us Make Halloween Magical for Kids in Shelter

The leaves are turning, porches are filling up with pumpkins, and kids everywhere are dreaming up this year's costume. Spooky season is one of the best parts of childhood—the thrill of dressing up, the candy, the giggles behind a mask.

But for the children who come to BRASS, Inc., Halloween can arrive in the middle of one of the hardest seasons of their lives. Many of them left home suddenly—with little more than the clothes they were wearing—to escape domestic violence. When a family is focused on staying safe, a costume and a bag of candy can feel very far away.

That's where you come in.

Each fall, our community helps make sure that every child staying at BRASS, Inc. gets to experience the simple magic of Halloween: to be a superhero, a princess, a dinosaur, or a friendly little ghost for one night, just like their friends. It's a small thing that means everything—a reminder that childhood goes on, and that they are seen, they are valued, and they are not alone.

What we're collecting

To make the magic happen, we're gathering the following (new and unused, please):

• Children's costumes in all sizes, from infant and toddler through teen

• Individually wrapped candy (store-bought and sealed)

• Treat-bag supplies—trick-or-treat bags, stickers, small toys, and fun trinkets

New, unopened items help us protect the safety and dignity of the families we serve, so we ask that all donations be brand new.

How to help

Shopping our Amazon Halloween Wish List is the easiest way to purchase requested items and have them shipped directly to BRASS, Inc.

Prefer to shop and drop off? Dropping off is easy. Please contact us at (270) 781-9334 and ask to speak with Robbie Chinn to coordinate your drop off. Please plan to do so before Friday, October 24 so we have time to sort costumes by size and get everything to families before the big night.

Want to do more? Rally your workplace, church group, team, or friends to host a mini costume-and-candy drive. It's a fun, easy way to make a big impact—and we'd be glad to help you get started.

To donate or organize a drive, reach out to Jenni Leeds at (270) 781-9334 or jenni@brassinc.org.

This spooky season, you can turn a hard year into a happy memory for a child who deserves one. Thank you for helping us make Halloween a little brighter for the kids at BRASS, Inc.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, BRASS, Inc.'s 24-hour crisis line is always here: 1-800-928-1183.