It’s not often that more than 100 people from multiple generations come together for a party, but that’s just what took place the Friday before Halloween at Hallmark Healthcare of Pekin, a skilled nursing facility in Peoria, IL.
A team of staff workers put together their annual trunk-or-treat event in the facility parking lot with help from residents and neighbors. Their goal was to provide a safe and fun trick-or-treating activity for local kids while connecting Hallmark Healthcare to the people around it.
It was a whole-community effort, explained Carol Williams, CEO and administrator at Hallmark Healthcare. Staff members dressed up and decorated their cars with elaborate Halloween displays while residents packed candy bags, helped with pumpkin painting activities and passed out candy to local kids.
Hallmark Healthcare’s neighbors also took part, donating candy to fill the kids’ trunk-or-treat bags.
“Anytime you have the opportunity to invite the community in, it’s a good thing,” Williams told McKnight’s, “because we’re a part of the community so it makes sense for the community to know who we are, who our residents are, who our staff are.”
The event had more to offer than just Halloween candy — the lineup of free snacks included hotdogs, popcorn and s’mores, with hot chocolate and apple cider to drink. Attendees also enjoyed a costume contest, pumpkin carving and painting, dancing and a “ring” toss using a witch’s hat. Contest winners received prize ribbons and “boo baskets” filled with candy.
The event had more to offer than just Halloween candy — the lineup of free snacks included hotdogs, popcorn and s’mores, with hot chocolate and apple cider to drink. Attendees also enjoyed a costume contest, pumpkin carving and painting, dancing and a “ring” toss using a witch’s hat. Contest winners received prize ribbons and “boo baskets” filled with candy.
The skilled nursing facility didn’t take exact attendance numbers, but estimated that more than 100 local kids made it to the trunk-or-treat event. Around 25 residents were involved in the festivities, too, as well as a committee of 13 staff members. Some families were repeat visitors to the annual event.
“Residents enjoy seeing all the kids and the costumes — that’s what they enjoy more than anything,” Williams explained, noting how meaningful intergenerational social events are to residents and to the community.
Staff and residents were excited about putting on the spooky event. “Once this time of the year arrives, everyone is ready for what we consider the kickoff to the holiday season.” Williams said.
Hallmark Healthcare isn’t finished with the festive spirit for the year either.
“We’re doing a tour of trees coming up in December,” said Williams.
This isn’t McKnight’s only feel-good Halloween story this year. We also covered a program uniting prison, nursing homes over pumpkins
