Amber Aston’s five-year-old daughter questioned Aston about what they were doing.
“She doesn’t really understand what’s going on so I was trying to explain it to her,” Aston said. “Being five, she doesn’t clearly understand. She knows COVID. She knows it’s dangerous.”
“What do you mean we’re driving through it and we’re not actually like walking like last year?” her daughter asked.
Aston was one of many parents who took their children through the Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treat event put on at the Painesville Salvation Army at 69 Pearl Street from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 17. The event was partnered with 100 Youth That Care and Eastlake Councilman Michael Zuren.
“It’s been a change for everyone’s lifestyle,” Aston said. “She still needs social skills. I’m trying to do the best I can to keep it normal, to let her come outside and play and try to do things the safe way.”
Paula Price, founder of 100 Youth That Care, said the event was put on to help get community members in the Halloween spirit.
“This is a small part that we can do to keep them happy,” she said. “I’m happy to do it even if it’s just a car trip just to get some free candy, bringing families closer together again.”
The event had four stations set up around the Painesville Salvation Army where families could drive through while staying in their car to maintain social distance because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Though in their cars, children still dressed up in their Halloween costumes. The stations had pre-bagged candy as well as bobbleheads and other toys. One station gave away cat and dog food for family pets.
Zuren said the event was planned as a precaution that there would be no trick-or-treating allowed this year.
“We thought most of the trick or treating would be canceled or families would not do it this year for fear of going door to door and spreading the virus,” he said. “They get the enjoyment of the season but the risk is extremely low.”
Zuren said that there will be another drive-thru trick-or-treating event at the Great Lakes Mall on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Though the event wasn’t the full trick-or-treat experience, Aston said she believes getting children to safely engage in activities is good for them.
“To still keep life as normal as possible is the best thing that any parent can try to do for their kids,” she said.
As of now, the idea of taking her daughter out for trick-or-treating is “still in the air” but she would like to “as long as we’re doing it safely.”
