What if instead of just eating candy on Halloween, you helped over 900 people have food to eat? Trick or Treat for canned goods rather than candy!

Try this alternative to traditional Halloween trick or treating any time in October. Collect non-perishable foods by going door-to door, holding a Harvest party, or any other creative way.

This year you can help stock City Union Mission's food pantries and dining halls, which feed over 900 people a day! We encourage your group to declare Trick Or Treat So Others Can Eat Week at your school or organization! City Union Mission will provide collection bags (while supplies last), while you provide the man-power and enthusiasm during the month of October.

These are some of the items that are needed:

• Canned meats (tuna, chicken, etc.)
• Canned dinners: (Chili, Spaghetti-O's, Ravioli, etc)
• Spam or Luncheon meat
• Some dry side dishes (rice, beans, pastas, etc.)
• Jars of peanut butter
• Saltine crackers

Fun Facts for T.O.T.S.O.C.E.
There are many ways to make T.O.T.S.O.C.E. a successful, fun time for your class or church group. Here’s a list of suggestions to help the event go smoothly.

• Let your school or neighborhood know in advance that you are participating in T.O.T.S.O.C.E. this year.
• Make it fun! If you’re collecting in a neighborhood, plan to spend about an hour T.O.T.S.O.C.E. Then reward the class with a yummy treat! If you are holding a school-wide collection, connect T.O.T.S.O.C.E. with a pilgrim parade or harvest festival.
• High schoolers may want to go collecting at night. Have everyone meet up afterwards at a local pizza place or coffee shop. T.O.T.S.O.C.E. could even be connected to a Friday night sporting event.
• Remind your kids about why they are participating in T.O.T.S.O.C.E. The Mission can provide a speaker, tour, or video to help.
• Bags full of canned goods get heavy fast! If kids comb the neighborhood, station cars at intervals, so the group can unload from time to time. Make sure you have adequate adult supervision. If kids dress up, discourage heavy, bulky costumes that may become a burden.
• Have your class count the contents of the collection before we receive it. It is important for the kids to feel good about what they’ve done. In fact, it might be a good idea to set an attainable goal beforehand, or create a contest for students to guess how many cans they collected and then award a winner after they’ve been counted! Bring the final count to the warehouse manager. (An inventory sheet should have been provided).
• The Mission must have an accurate inventory of all T.O.T.S.O.C.E. food collected. Please be sure to bring in the results of your collection on or before Nov. 8 so we have time to inventory before Thanksgiving. Label bags with group’s name, address, and class information so we can say THANKS!
• We want to help you coordinate T.O.T.S.O.C.E. so please don’t hesitate to call 816-474-9380, ext. 1487 or 1497.

Click below to download a .pdf flyer for this drive. It includes:

• A descripition of the drive.
• The fun facts listed above.
• A flyer that you can fill-in and print out to raise awareness in your organization.
• A two-page inventory sheet to submit with your donation.