Every kid deserves the opportunity to wear a Halloween costume and go trick or treating.
A year ago, Lisa Whitson attended a Halloween event for special needs kids in North Vernon. The parents of a child with autism wanted to do something that was safe and fun for the kids.
The event included pizza, candy, crafts, snacks, games and a visit by police officers and firefighters.
“It wasn’t a whole lot of kids, but it was their first time, and it was just a family that decided to do this,” Whitson said. “They got some donations, it was great and the kids had a good time.”
She returned home and told a friend, Mary Carlson, that it would be good to do for kids in Jackson County.
This summer, they were at an event in Seymour and talked to others about it. That included Melanie O’Neal, executive director of The Arc of Jackson County and Mental Health America of Jackson County.
That’s when planning for the inaugural Halloween Hootenanny began.
Special needs school-age kids and their families are invited to the event, set for 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Boys & Girls Club of Seymour, 950 N. O’Brien St.
Co-sponsored by The Arc of Jackson County and the Seymour Noon Lions Club, the event will feature snacks, games, prizes, candy, pumpkins, activities, face painting, Play-Doh and an appearance by Flash, a therapy miniature horse.
“We’ve gotten lots of donations, and a lot of people have really jumped on board,” Whitson said. “Honestly, when I thought about doing it and talked to Mary about it, I was thinking it would be kind of that same thing (as North Vernon), but it has exploded. I can’t even believe it. It’s awesome the amount of people that are getting involved.”
A few months ago, Carlson posted on her Facebook page to gauge interest of having a Halloween event for special needs kids, and it received a lot of positive comments.
Through that post, O’Neal got connected with Christy Nolan, who expressed interest in helping out.
Shortly after, the group had a meeting at the Community Agency Building in downtown Seymour.
“Not long into the meeting, I just felt like The Arc needs to be involved somehow,” O’Neal said.
The idea was presented to The Arc’s board and received approval for the organization to be the main sponsor.
O’Neal then attended a Seymour Noon Lions Club meeting to see if the group would sponsor coloring books to place in goody bags for the kids. The club agreed to do that and be a co-sponsor of the event.
Other groups have gotten involved with the event, too. Employees of The Peoples Bank will provide the face painting equipment and do the face painting, Seymour High School Jobs for America’s Graduates students are going to help with the craft stations and a few people donated pumpkins for kids to paint.
Whitson also received donations from a woman she went to school with who saw a post on Facebook about the event. The woman invited Whitson to drive to Brookville to get some donations, and Whitson and Carlson returned home with candy and other items for the goody bags.
“My trunk was full. My back seat was full. It was incredible. We cried,” Whitson said. “This is stuff she wanted to do. It’s not a huge organization. She did this because she wanted to. I’ve messaged her I don’t know how many times on Facebook and am like, ‘I can’t believe you’ve done this.’ She said, ‘If you guys need something, I will be willing to help out next year.’ I just thought it was amazing.”
The event means a lot to Whitson because she has worked with special needs kids for 25 years, and she had a daughter with special needs.
“There are some that can’t handle crowds. They can’t handle noise. I couldn’t imagine some of the kids I’ve worked with over the years taking them trick or treating,” she said. “This is going to be a good place for them going trick or treating. This way, they can come in, they can sit down and … all of these things are good for them.”
It will be a good opportunity for socialization, too, Carlson said.
“They all pretty much know each other,” she said. “I just think it helps them to be outside with other kids socializing.”
Another plus is that it will be a nonjudgmental place where kids can be themselves and have fun, O’Neal said.
“Not only is it important for the kiddos, it’s important for the parents and the caregivers because we can’t go places that typical kids can go to, typical families can go to because of overstimulation and behaviors,” she said. “That’s what The Arc and Mental Health do. They provide socials that people can attend, and it’s equally as important for the parents and caregivers as it is for the students.”
Whitson said her hope is that this event continues beyond this year.
“It’s just very precious to my heart,” she said. “I do what I do for special needs in memory of my daughter, so for me to be a part of something like this and see kids smile, I wish my daughter was able to do this. To me, it’s my mission in life to give to special needs kids. To me, that’s what it’s all about.”
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What: Inaugural Halloween Hootenanny, co-sponsored by The Arc of Jackson County and the Seymour Noon Lions Club
When: 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 21
Where: Boys & Girls Club of Seymour, 950 N. O’Brien St.
Who: Special needs school-age kids and their families are invited
Details: Snacks, games, prizes, candy, pumpkins, activities, face painting, Play-Doh and an appearance by Flash, a therapy miniature horse
Information: Donations for the event may be dropped off at The Arc of Jackson County in Suite 304 at the Community Agency Building, 113 N. Chestnut St., Seymour; checks should be made payable to The Arc of Jackson County
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