Project Pumpkin Provides Tricks and Treats

Photo by Stephen Anzaldi

About 800 little ghosts and goblins scurried around Norris University Center Oct. 27 to celebrate Halloween at Northwestern.

The Evanston and Chicago children aged 4 to 12 visited the Evanston campus for Project Pumpkin, an annual event sponsored by the Northwestern Community Development Corps, a student group.

“Project Pumpkin is a completely student-run endeavor and one of the best partnerships Northwestern has with the community,” said Suzan Akin, coordinator of Student Community Service for the Center for Student Involvement.

The fall event provides underserved children with a safe haven to trick or treat for Halloween.

Hundreds of Northwestern students, most also dressed in Halloween costumes, chaperoned the children around Norris University Center where different dormitories, residential colleges, campus student groups and Greek organizations ran booths with carnival games and activities.

The young tricksters visited a Haunted House, bobbed for apples, toured an outdoor graveyard, listened to scary stories, and took turns vying for Halloween piñata treats.

“The children came from organizations such as Christopher House, Y.O.U. (Youth Organization Umbrella, Inc.) and the Lutheran Family Mission,” said senior Rebecca Maltzman, co-chair of this year’s Northwestern Community Development Corps with senior Monica Ko.

“We work hard to decorate Norris with different Halloween themes."

“This event allows students to relive their childhoods, while at the same time making it possible for kids around the Chicago (and Evanston) area to trick or treat in a fun and friendly environment,” said Ko.

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