Well, tomorrow is the big day-Halloween! It will be a night of fun, with costumes, parties, trick or treating, and gathering of friends.
Like so many others, Halloween marks the start of the holiday season for us. It brings cooler weather, the start of all things sweet, and the beginning of a time where we start to think about others. I know many of us think about others all the time, but during the holiday season, I think we tend to want to reach out to people more than usual.
This year (as well as last year) my daughter will be serving in a local neighborhood. Down in the Lowell area, there is a house that is called Martin Park. The house is home to Oscar Rodriguez and his family. Behind the home are apartments he helps to take care of. On the property they have a space for children to go and play, and other activities are provided throughout the year. From 4-6pm on Halloween night, Martin Park is open as a carnival to all the kids in the neighborhood. Children come dressed up in their costumes, play games, win prizes, and have fun. There will be food and a raffle for a bike giveaway.
This is a wonderful way to reach out to those in that community, and I just love how Oscar and Julie (his wife) have a love for the kids in the area.
As I was thinking about this event, it got me wondering if other people around town do similar things. One of my friends will be doing a dinner at her home, then trick or treating around the neighborhood, which I’m guessing is pretty common. However, she’s opening it up to all of her neighbors.
Last year I had a different friend who provided free hotdogs to those in her neighborhood. Her and her husband opened up their garage, started up the grill, and had a mini block party. They had just moved into the area, and they were looking for a way to connect with their neighbors.
Is there a way you could reach out in your community? Let these stories be an encouragement to you! Maybe your neighborhood already does this. Do you open your home on Halloween? Do you have a neighbor who has a Haunted House for the neighborhood kids to enjoy? Is there a block party celebration each Fall? Does your neighborhood welcome others from all over Fresno?
I’d love to hear what goes on around our wonderful city and ways we connect with others within our communities.
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