Instead of heading downtown for Wall Street’s block party or going to the last night of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, some college students tapped into their childhood by trick or treating on Greek Park.
Trick or Treat on Greek Street, organized by the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life, is an event to provide a fun and safe alternative to go trick or treating for children surrounding the UCF community instead of collecting candy in the evening. The Greek philanthropy event was Sunday, Oct. 31 at UCF’s Greek Park.
Every year, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life pairs with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida to organize the event. This is how Trick or Treat on Greek Street began. The students later encouraged families from the surrounding UCF community to participate.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida is an afterschool program to help underprivileged children. The club allows children to partake in activities that they normally wouldn’t be given the opportunity to do so.
Laura Cosenzo, a graduate assistant from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life, was thrilled with the number of families and students at the event.
Cosenzo spoke with the director from the Boys and Girls Club who relayed one boys message: This is even better than Disney World.
All of the sororities and fraternities who have houses on campus participated in this Greek philanthropy. Each house had a theme and its members decorated their houses accordingly. The children not only got to collect candy, but a variety of games and activities were provided at each house. The children were able to do everything from walking through haunted houses, to jumping in bounce houses, and decorating Halloween cookies.
Chelsea Dickson, marketing director for Trick or Treat on Greek Street’s executive board, said it’s a way for the Greek community to give back to Orlando.
“It makes me proud to be apart of the Greek community when you see how happy the children are to be at an event that they are never going to forget,” Dickenson said. “It gives you that warm, happy feeling that you’re able to do this for them.”
Forty-one children from the Boys and Girls Clubs came this year assisted by volunteers. Dickenson said that they provide a bus to bring the children to UCF.
A total of 410 people attended the event, and it was split evenly between children and adults.
