Church offers children treats without tricks
Michael Holodnak, 4, of Evans, has his face painted by Maggie Bullock during the First Baptist Church of Evans' Trunk of Treat Fall Festival on Saturday.
Photo by Donnie Fetter
The lure of candy served from car trunks brought out hundreds of children Saturday to the First Baptist Church of Evans' Trunk or Treat Fall Festival.
"We saw the sign as we were going by and wanted to look in," said Diane Kittenhofer, who brought her two children. "The kids saw the trunks full of candy and were hooked."
The third annual event drew between 450 to 500 people last year. Pastor Steve Spencer is hoping for a few more this year for reasons beyond Halloween fun.
"It's a way for us to minister to people who wouldn't normally come here," he said. "There are a lot of people in our community that don't go to church but would love to attend a fall festival with their children in a safe environment. This gives them that opportunity and gives us a chance to show them what our church has to offer."
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Several decorated vehicles were lined up with open trunks holding candy for passing children. Inside the church, several games and arts and crafts items were set up and enjoyed by hundreds of costume-clad children.
"This was an idea that my wife, Rita, had, and it has gotten bigger every year," Spencer said. "We're a community church that believes in giving back to the community. Trunk or Treat is one of our biggest ways of doing that."