MONTAGUE — The Montague Public Libraries and The Brick House Community Resource Center are teaming up to host an inaugural Halloween costume drive, allowing families to clean out the unused costumes in their closets while also ensuring every child who wants to dress up has a costume to wear this Halloween.
Through Friday, Oct. 9, donation bins collecting new or gently used Halloween costumes and accessories can be found at the Carnegie Public Library, 201 Avenue A, and The Brick House’s main building, 24 Third St.
Then from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, a Halloween Costume Swap Party will take place at The Brick House’s annex, 22 Third St., where community members are welcome to drop off costumes, pick up a donated costume or both. It is not required to bring a costume to take a costume. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a crafting activity.
The idea for this inaugural costume drive was conjured up by Brick House Assistant Director Hannah Bertrand and Montague’s Youth Services Librarian Angela Rovatti-Leonard, who collaborate on events and programs geared toward young Montague residents. Bertrand said the idea for the costume drive arose as the two discussed the financial landscape amid rising heating and grocery costs.
“We wanted to try and help families afford Halloween this year,” Bertrand said.
“Halloween is such an exciting part of being a kid, and we want every child in our villages to have the chance to join in,” Lachlan Thompson, community relations coordinator for the Montague Public Libraries, said in a statement. “A costume that’s been sitting in the back of someone’s closet collecting dust might be exactly what another kid has been looking for. That’s what makes this kind of community sharing so wonderful.”
Bertrand explained that donations can include full sets of Halloween costumes for children and adults, with children’s and teens costumes especially sought-after. Additionally, accessories that could be used to piece together a costume will also being accepted. That means unused vampire fangs, fairy wings, capes, hats, masks, wigs, or other accessories or costume parts are just as welcome as a full costume.
With this being the first year of the donation drive and Halloween Costume Swap Party, Bertrand said she thinks the effort aligns well with what The Brick House already does, such as winter coat and back-to-school drives. The hope is that the costume drive will be successful enough to bring back for many Halloweens to come.
