Halloween Candy Question

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Okay, this is a weird question. We just moved to a very rural area. Most people live on several acres. I probably have one of the smaller lots with just over 7. Anyway, we assumed that DD's trick-or-treating days were over. She's 12 so it wasn't a huge deal (at least to the parents ).

She starts school and her new friends inform her that there are 3 or 4 blocks in town where everyone trick-or-treats. DD is excited and started making plans with her new buddies in September. So just imagine, you live on one of those blocks and the entire township is knocking at your door!! Now personally, I love to hand out candy. I love seeing all the kids. When we lived in a town setting I would start purchasing a bag of candy every week when I went to the grocery store. Seems much easier to stomach slowly over 2 months then in one big expenditure.

Here's the question: At her GS meeting last night the troop leader informed us (well me because I'm the newbie) that everyone donates a bag of candy and then it's all combined and distributed ahead of time to the houses in town to aid with the large quantity of trick-or-treaters.
I have no problem donating a bag. We bought two and I know that we will end up eating both so it's really not that big of a deal. I'll give it to the leader on Wednesday when I see her.

DH on the other hand thinks this is ridiculous. In our former town we could easily get over 100 kids a year. All the houses were close to together and kids from other towns would come in and just walk around. In fact, when DD was little we would only do a few blocks and there was enough candy to last for months. So we know what it's like to have bunches of kid.

So give me your thoughts please? I'm going to err on the side of generosity and just donate the bag of candy. However, if there really aren't as many kids as we used to get then next year I may opt out. Besides, the kid is getting a little old for this.

I'm going to try for my first poll.

 

[Janepod]

Okay, this is a weird question. We just moved to a very rural area. Most people live on several acres. I probably have one of the smaller lots with just over 7. Anyway, we assumed that DD's trick-or-treating days were over. She's 12 so it wasn't a huge deal (at least to the parents ).

She starts school and her new friends inform her that there are 3 or 4 blocks in town where everyone trick-or-treats. DD is excited and started making plans with her new buddies in September. So just imagine, you live on one of those blocks and the entire township is knocking at your door!! Now personally, I love to hand out candy. I love seeing all the kids. When we lived in a town setting I would start purchasing a bag of candy every week when I went to the grocery store. Seems much easier to stomach slowly over 2 months then in one big expenditure.

Here's the question: At her GS meeting last night the troop leader informed us (well me because I'm the newbie) that everyone donates a bag of candy and then it's all combined and distributed ahead of time to the houses in town to aid with the large quantity of trick-or-treaters.
I have no problem donating a bag. We bought two and I know that we will end up eating both so it's really not that big of a deal. I'll give it to the leader on Wednesday when I see her.

DH on the other hand thinks this is ridiculous. In our former town we could easily get over 100 kids a year. All the houses were close to together and kids from other towns would come in and just walk around. In fact, when DD was little we would only do a few blocks and there was enough candy to last for months. So we know what it's like to have bunches of kid.

So give me your thoughts please? I'm going to err on the side of generosity and just donate the bag of candy. However, if there really aren't as many kids as we used to get then next year I may opt out. Besides, the kid is getting a little old for this.

I'm going to try for my first poll.

If that's how it's done in your new town, I would go with it.

Our town is similar, in that the houses are all on large lots set back from the road, so there are only two or three good trick-or-treating spots. I always feel kind of bad for those homeowners because, while it is nice of them to indulge so many non-neighborhood kids, it does make for an expensive and long night. It would be very considerate to help out with the candy.

We've been in this house for eight years. We have literally only ever had one trick or treater ever. I don't even buy candy any more.

 

[JessicaR]

All the kids trick or treat on a few blocks. This is their tradition. They collect candy to help the people out - probably LOTS of kids?

No issue what so ever for me. I would buy them 2 bags of candy.

Hope your daughter has fun!

 

[JKMJ441724]

I would give the bag and grit my teeth.

I have TONS of trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood because the houses are fairly close together and there aren't any hills to climb. I know there are MANY, MANY more people coming into my neighborhood than there are kids that live here.

I would never ask anyone to donate candy. I spend the amount of money on candy that I am comfortable with. If I give it all out, then I turn off the light.

Good luck. I hope your DD has a great time.

 

[maps]

I live in a small rural town too and no one ever comes to our house (my first year there I even sat at the end of my very long driveway with candy and nobody came by!). What my town does is everyone goes down to Main St and trick or treats at the houses there. The market and Inn have cider and treats for adults and kids. It really is a fun night(when it's not freezing out!). So we have donated a bag of candy since the home owners usually get hundreds of kids coming to their house.

 

[JessicaR]

I would give the bag and grit my teeth.

I have TONS of trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood because the houses are fairly close together and there aren't any hills to climb. I know there are MANY, MANY more people coming into my neighborhood than there are kids that live here.

I would never ask anyone to donate candy. I spend the amount of money on candy that I am comfortable with. If I give it all out, then I turn off the light.

Good luck. I hope your DD has a great time.

Well, what if you didn't get ANY trick or treaters? It isn't like the OP is going to get any so they donate to those that take care of all the kids.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I would give the bag and grit my teeth.

I have TONS of trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood because the houses are fairly close together and there aren't any hills to climb. I know there are MANY, MANY more people coming into my neighborhood than there are kids that live here.

I would never ask anyone to donate candy. I spend the amount of money on candy that I am comfortable with. If I give it all out, then I turn off the light.

Good luck. I hope your DD has a great time.

See, this is the type of area we came from. DH even told me to just buy one bag for us on the off chance someone comes. But if it helps, DD is the first on her bus, they pick up a teenager half a mile away and then she spends the next 40 minutes traversing the township picking up other kids. It's fairly rural.

I really have no issue giving them a bag. I'll hold off on giving two just to see what they mean by "a lot of kids". This is rural and while I love this place and am extremely happy we live here, they seem to think that the town 15 minutes away is extremely populated!!! To us, it's just the type of area we came from so it's no biggie to us. I think it's just what they are used to. So I'll gladly give my bag. If she goes next year, and it is really crowded, then I'll give 2!!

 

[monkeybug]

I really have no issue giving them a bag. I'll hold off on giving two just to see what they mean by "a lot of kids". This is rural and while I love this place and am extremely happy we live here, they seem to think that the town 15 minutes away is extremely populated!!! To us, it's just the type of area we came from so it's no biggie to us. I think it's just what they are used to. So I'll gladly give my bag. If she goes next year, and it is really crowded, then I'll give 2!!

We live in a very rural area too. There are a few neighborhoods (we are in one) but the majority of the residents live in the country.
Kids here trick or treat downtown, and we were told when we moved here that it's a pretty big deal. We, like you, thought "whats a big deal look like around here though? 90 kids??"
Well I was in one of the local shops (the businesses hand out candy on Halloween) and they were telling me all about the Halloween celebration. I asked them how big it really was, and he told me they get probably 1,000 people. "I said 1,000? Really?" and he said "at least!"
I guess people drive from all over the county (which is almost entirely rural, our town is I believe the largest in the county) to trick or treat downtown because most don't have neighborhoods to trick or treat in.
Maybe that won't be the case in your town, but I've learned not to underestimate how populated the "country" can be!

 

[DebD4T]

Think of it this way...

If no one is coming to your house then the bag you donate takes the place of what you would give out.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I would have no problem donating a couple bags of candy, that would still be far less than I usually buy so it's a bargain. If that's what happens in your town, I would go along with it and not be upset by the requested donation (especially because it's so small).

 

[mjkacmom]

DH on the other hand thinks this is ridiculous. In our former town we could easily get over 100 kids a year. All the houses were close to together and kids from other towns would come in and just walk around. In fact, when DD was little we would only do a few blocks and there was enough candy to last for months. So we know what it's like to have bunches of kid.
.

You think 100 kids is a lot?! We live a few houses away from one of the busiest streets on halloween (about 2 miles long, flat, homes 30 feet from each other, expensive homes...), and they probably get 100 kids every half hour! They literally sit on their porches with the candy - no need to ring a doorbell during peak times. You can't even drive down the street because of all the peopel. I have friends who live on popular streets, and buy 30 or so bags of candy.

There are lots of people who drive their kids to other neighborhoods to trick or treat. I think it's a great idea for those who don't live in the neighborhood they trick or treat in to donate candy to the cause. We only get about 30 - 40 kids at our house.

 

[design_mom]

I would wonder about the logistics of it (who collects? who distributes?) but I wouldn't have a problem with the amount of the donation... especially if my daughter planned to participate.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I would have no problem donating a couple bags of candy, that would still be far less than I usually buy so it's a bargain. If that's what happens in your town, I would go along with it and not be upset by the requested donation (especially because it's so small).

Definitely not upset!! And your logic is what I tried to explain to DH.

I just wondered how everyone else would feel because I never even looked at it from my DH's point of view. Sometimes it's good to get opinions from people other than family!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

You think 100 kids is a lot?! We live a few houses away from one of the busiest streets on halloween (about 2 miles long, flat, homes 30 feet from each other, expensive homes...), and they probably get 100 kids every half hour! They literally sit on their porches with the candy - no need to ring a doorbell during peak times. You can't even drive down the street because of all the peopel. I have friends who live on popular streets, and buy 30 or so bags of candy.

There are lots of people who drive their kids to other neighborhoods to trick or treat. I think it's a great idea for those who don't live in the neighborhood they trick or treat in to donate candy to the cause. We only get about 30 - 40 kids at our house.

I lived at the end of the block against the river so if they made it to my house they got a bag full of the good stuff and no fillers like a couple of starburst broken up.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If your dd is trick or treating there, you donate.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We live in a very rural area too. There are a few neighborhoods (we are in one) but the majority of the residents live in the country.
Kids here trick or treat downtown, and we were told when we moved here that it's a pretty big deal. We, like you, thought "whats a big deal look like around here though? 90 kids??"
Well I was in one of the local shops (the businesses hand out candy on Halloween) and they were telling me all about the Halloween celebration. I asked them how big it really was, and he told me they get probably 1,000 people. "I said 1,000? Really?" and he said "at least!"
I guess people drive from all over the county (which is almost entirely rural, our town is I believe the largest in the county) to trick or treat downtown because most don't have neighborhoods to trick or treat in.
Maybe that won't be the case in your town, but I've learned not to underestimate how populated the "country" can be!

Wow!!! Where's that fainting smilie when you need it!!!

 

[sweetdana]

Unless it is a hard ship, a true lesson in GS is giving. End of story. It would be a good lesson, to help others, with no expectation of anything back. I am very lucky and blessed that a bag of candy is not a hardship.. where others it may be. Easy, she learns about giving, and kids get free candy.. win win

 

[Hannathy]

If I had a kid going I would probably give 3 or 4 bags of candy! If I didn't have a kid going I'd give at least 1.

If your DH won't give a bag of candy then I don't think your DD should go.

 

[monkeybug]

Wow!!! Where's that fainting smilie when you need it!!!

Haha! I know! I kind of still don't believe it, even though by now many other people have said the same thing; "thousands!".
It just sure doesn't seem like thousands of people would flock to our small town just to trick or treat. I guess I'll find out if they're all exaggerating soon enough!

We have decided to stay in our neighborhood because the downtown thing sounds crowded and crazy. (we are going to drive by to check it out but trick or treat here) I asked a mom at the bus stop if anyone even trick or treated in the neighborhood or if they all went downtown. She said that people do trick or treat here, but that because we're toward the back of the neighborhood we don't get that many, probably only around 80.
80??? That seems like a lot to me!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

If I had a kid going I would probably give 3 or 4 bags of candy! If I didn't have a kid going I'd give at least 1.

If your DH won't give a bag of candy then I don't think your DD should go.

But my DH isn't going trick or treating. DD is going trick or treating and I'm more than willing to supply the requested bag of candy. No worries.

DH gets to have his opinion and I have mine.