Halloween candy collection tradition continues at St. Anne Parish School

About 12 years ago, Sister Anna Marie Dressler and Sister Lauretta Leipzig, who minister at St. Anne Catholic Community in Barrington, began to realize the significant amount of trick or treat candy children received at Halloween. As a result of this, they began the Candy Sharing Project.

Their mission was to encourage children to be conscious of others, who are not as fortunate as they, and to do something positive about this.

Just before Halloween, the children of St. Anne Parish School are given a brown lunch bag and are asked to share their trick or treat candy and return it to school the day after Halloween. Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities as well as children unable to trick or treat because of neighborhood dangers, living placements and other deprived situations, become recipients of their kindness.

Each year more than 30 large shopping bags are distributed in Milwaukee and Chicago by some of the School Sisters of St. Francis, who work in these cities or surrounding areas.

A certain amount of candy is immediately taken to the children and the elderly, but Santa also delivers some of the candy with his Christmas gifts or the Easter Bunny remembers them with some of the candy put into Easter baskets.

With the help and encouragement of parents and teachers the Candy Sharing Project continues and the collection grows each year. Every donation finds a home and is appreciated.

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