Editor,
The board of the White Street Halloween Candy Bank has decided that in the name of public safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, we will not operate the Candy Bank this Halloween. Nothing brings us more joy than accumulating the generous amount of candy donated from the public, dispersing it to neighbors who otherwise cannot afford the amount of candy the event requires, then distributing it to 1200 children plus the parents that accompany them.
All this is a fancy way of saying Halloween on White Street draws an extremely large crowd, which by state and national health guidelines is strongly discouraged, even though it occurs outdoors. Therefore, we join the ranks of other event producers who have graciously sacrificed the Zombie Crawl, May Fine Arts Month, Books in Bloom and so many others.
Although we at the Candy Bank realize Halloween is a holiday that belongs to the public and many residents of the Upper Historic Loop may still wish to pass out candy on that night, we strongly urge them to consider all aspects of safety and take necessary precautions. We encourage families to think of alternate things to do with each other on this evening, such as car trips around town to look at decorated homes or perhaps reviving the lost art of toilet papering houses, now that the tissue shortage seems to be under control (just kidding).
We thank all the loyal friends who have donated candy in past years and look forward to celebrating Halloween again together in the coming years. Stay safe, stay home, and get creative.
Mark Hughes, Steve Beacham