FROM JESSICA COLLEY
ALABAMA BACKS THE BLUE – NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
The reason we decided to do a Trunk or Treat…..
We (Alabama Backs The Blue) saw a need in the community to come together; to have fun; to have a safe place for families to take their children; to fellowship. Children love Halloween almost as much as they love Christmas, even BIG children (adults). This past year has been a depressing one for many people.
Some have lost jobs or at least had reduced hours. Some parents have had to become teachers and attempt to not only help their children learn but some are trying to do this (or keep up with a toddler) while working from home. Adults and Children have been told to stay home and to stay away from everyone.
We, as humans, are not meant to do this. It is human nature to want and need fellowship with others from the moment we leave the womb. If children can go to a State Fair, to School, Shopping, etc…. they can certainly attend an outdoor Halloween event. We provided hand sanitizer, gloves and only gave out individually wrapped items.
We cooked 240 hotdogs and at least 200 of those went to children. We also fed the Volunteers and First Responders who attended. We gave each child a glow stick bracelet. Due to Covid, we did not do certain things we wanted to like kid’s games and a bouncy house but we do plan to add those things for next year. Our cost was covered by donations.
We did not expect the donations we received but were so thankful when we counted them the next day and compared to our cost and realized we didn’t have to spend a dime from our Non Profit AND were able to put some back into our Non Profit for Law Enforcement.
We want to especially thank Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers (Fish & Game) and “The Bracelet Man” James Royster for their generous donations and the community who showed their support by attending and many donating.
THANK YOU…. Coaches Corner (The Norton’s), for allowing us to use your parking lot and being continuous supporters. John Southerland and Family for your continuous support, cooking the hotdogs, helping with set up/tear down and setting up a trunk.
Ashley Carter and Shannon McInnis for working the Entrance and making sure all kids were fed by giving them food tickets. Ashley and Nick Carter for your speaker playing fun Halloween music which made for a wonderful atmosphere.
The Clevelands for setting up a trunk and being continuous supporters.
Jake Baker and Family for helping us with set up and setting up a trunk.
EMA crew for your support and for the Light Tower (& other items) to make it a safer event and for setting up a trunk.
City of Wetumpka for loaning us garbage cans.
231 Total Car Care (The Reed Family) for setting up a trunk, prepping, serving, set up/tear down and for being continuous supporters.
Wetumpka Window Tint for setting up a trunk and for your continuous support.
Wetumpka Police Department for providing your D.A.R.E. car and an Officer to provide safety for the event.
Wetumpka Fire Department, Redland Fire Department, Santuck Fire Department & Emerald Mountain for their participation.
What better way to create a safe place for Parents to take their Children than to have a First Responder Trunk or Treat? The feedback we received from this event has been very positive. Many parents expressed that they were appreciative that we fed their kids and we gave them a safe place to enjoy time with them (outdoors).
This was our first Trunk or Treat so it was a trial run. Due to the participation and feedback, we do plan to do this yearly and expect an even better turn out next year. We already have more Trunks committing to this event for next year. If you are a First Responder or Department that would like to join us next year, please email us at
alabamabackstheblue@gmail.com
We want to say THANK YOU to all who VOLUNTEERED, to all who DONATED and to all who PARTICIPATED with their Children. It was all worth it just to see families having fun, dancing, enjoying time together. We @AlabamaBacksTheBlue are committed to supporting our Law Enforcement and All First Responders and to bring our community together to “bridge the gap.”
