Trick-or-treat event collects food for needy

Naperville Junior Woman's Club collected 1,563 pounds of nonperishable food donations plus $316 in cash donations for Loaves and Fishes Community Services this month during its annual Trick-or-Treat event at Safety Town.

More than 1,000 children toured the educational town replica on Saturday, Oct. 18, gathering treats at stations sponsored by local businesses. Before walking through Safety Town, the children were given a brief overview of tips on how to stay safe and make good choices when trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Families lined up early to wait for Safety Town to open for trick-or-treating.

"We look forward to running this event every year because the kids love visiting the town in their costume for some early trick-or-treating, families help make a difference for the hungry, and we can help educate the children about Halloween safety in a fun environment," said club member Meredith Sonetz, who manages the planning and resources needed for the event and represents the club on the Safety Town Commission.

Safety Town's annual Trick-or-Treat event is a cooperative effort between the Naperville Junior Woman's Club, local corporate sponsors and teen volunteers. Safety Town is located at 1320 Aurora Ave., on the campus with the Naperville Police and Fire Departments.

The Naperville Junior Woman's Club is looking for energetic, enthusiastic women to join its service organization. Every year members give thousands of hours of service to the community and thousands of dollars to charitable organizations including Safety Town.

For information about membership, programs, fundraising initiatives and special events, visit napervillejuniors.org or call (630) 575-9567.