Bloomington families trick-or-treat with greeks

Titus Lindley, a 6-year-old, eloquently captured the spirit of Wednesday’s Safe Halloween, where Bloomington families were invited to trick-or-treat at the greek houses on the Jordan extension.

“I just want the candy!” he said.  

Fraternities and sororities blocked off the extension to celebrate pre-Halloween festivities with Bloomington locals. Greeks dressed up, blared music and passed out candy, which the kids enjoyed along with other activities such as an obstacle course and moon bounce.

“It is such a great opportunity for us to give back to the Bloomington community, which we call our home for eight months out of the year,” said junior Stephanie Nowell, director of leadership development for the IU Panhellenic Association.  

Nowell said the goal of Safe Halloween was to provide families with a safe place to let their young children trick-or-treat without worry. And after three successful years, Safe
Halloween boasts a dedicated fan base that appreciates the secure atmosphere.

“It is a nice, safe area,” Bloomington resident and parent Ronda Grover said. “There are lots of families, and it’s great to be with the students. We have come every year.”

The event is coordinated by the Junior Greek Council and has been put on for the past three years. The Junior Greek Council consists of one representative from each greek chapter and has been planning Safe Halloween for more than a month.  

“These are the future leaders of the greek system,” said senior Natalie Layton, vice president of leadership development for PHA. “We want to give them a chance to give back and see what that feels like.”

The event had a relatively good turnout from both greeks and children, Nowell said.  

“Each year we are trying to make it a little bigger and better so that this becomes something that Bloomington families really look forward to,” Nowell said.