Sandy Jones with changes to West Plains Trunk or Treat Oct. 27

West Plains, MO – For 19 years, Trunk or Treat has been a Halloween tradition in West Plains. Due to COVID-19, we saw the event canceled in 2020. This year, Trunk or Treat is back on but with a few changes. Ozark Radio News spoke with Sandy Jones of South Central Missouri Trunk or Treat:

 

Advertisement

Nate Hudson:

Today, I am sitting down with Sandy Jones of the South Central Missouri Trunk or Treat. They do Trunk or Treat in West Plains. How many years have you been doing it now, Sandy?

Sandy Jones:

This is our 19th year. It began as just a suggestion for gaining access to food. We had a relationship with hospice and they needed to get some food for their community baskets that they deliver at Christmas and they did not know how to collect food. The director was new to the area. We were having a Trunk or Treat at our church and I said to her, “Why don’t we ask the children to bring canned food to come and that would be the admission?” That’s what started it 19 years ago. It became so big that we only lasted two years at our church, then we went to the Catholic church because they had a bigger parking lot, and then ever since the fourth year, we’ve been at the Civic Center because there were that many people.

Nate Hudson:

How many people do you think normally come through Trunk or Treat now?

Sandy Jones:

We used to try to take an exact tally, but it became too difficult. Because of the candy that we give away and the parents and the entertainers, the volunteers, and the sponsors doing the trunks, we average 4,000 people. Some say it’s up to 5,000. I know those sound like really large numbers, but if you’ve ever been to the Trunk or Treat, you know what I say, it’s very crowded.

Nate Hudson:

Oh, absolutely. It’s a lot of fun too. This year we are seeing a change of venue with the Trunk or Treat in West Plains. Can you tell us a little more about that?

Sandy Jones:

Yes. Obviously, because of how congested it was, we canceled last year because of COVID, and it looked like we were going to cancel again this year. It was only because of suggestions of how meaningful it is for children to bring canned food to help support our community and to give back in a way, I was very motivated to try and find a way to do this. My friend, Cindy Wright of the Bridges Organization, she suggested that we try a similar drive-thru as they did for the back to school bash. We adopted their route and their game plan. The West Plains High School is very generous in allowing us to use their space, and so we’re going to do it there. It’s our first year. We know they’ll be a lot of changes for people, but we hope they’ll still welcome coming in.

Nate Hudson:

All right. From the information that we have here, the Trunk or Treat in West Plains is going to be happening at the West Plains High School parking lot.

Sandy Jones:

Correct.

Nate Hudson:

Starting October 27th at 6:00 PM until 8:30 PM, is that correct?

Sandy Jones:

Well, because we are sharing the parking lot with the high school, we have to allow all the students to get off of the parking lot. So we’re asking our trunks who will enter on Olden Avenue by the middle school, that they will come and set up between 5:00 and 6:00. Those who are getting in line will do so on Bratton Avenue, and they’ll enter on Howell by the new tennis courts. The route will be very obvious to people. We’ll have traffic control and volunteers out there.

Sandy Jones:

Most cars like to come early, most people like to be early at the Trunk or Treat, and we ask that you don’t this year because we don’t want to block traffic on Broadway. We won’t allow cars in until 6:30. That will give us time to set up in the parking lot. We know people will come early, but we hope not too early because we’re just going to have to send you around again. We can’t block the railroad tracks.

Nate Hudson:

Yeah. Thank you so much, as a parent of young kids, for putting on Trunk or Treat all of these years. I’ve known many friends that went to it when they were younger and now some of them are even bringing their kids to it. Thank you for doing this in our area here in South Central Missouri and thank you for coming in and speaking with me today.

Sandy Jones:

Well, I appreciate it. Honestly, our sponsors are what make this happen. We should all be very certain to say thank you to them when you go through the line tomorrow, but also thank you to the children for bringing canned food. Last year with other donations that we received, we were able to give holiday baskets to over a thousand families. The food is well used. It’s a real community effort and it’s a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season.

Nate Hudson:

All right. Well, thank you. Sandy Jones of South Central Missouri Trunk or Treat.

 

Trunk or Treat in West Plains will be held at the West Plains High School Parking Lot on Wednesday, October 27 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This is a Drive-Thru ONLY event. School will be in session that day and the organization asks that no one lines up early, to help keep traffic to a minimum. 

Canned Food remains the price of admission. The Annual Food Drive kicks off with a 37,000 pound truck of caned goods donated by Deseret Charities. Last year, hundreds of families were recipients of the food served by Hospice, Am Vets, Ozark Action, Elks, and Bridges.

Advertisement
Wood & Huston