Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
What began as an alternative to the traditional Trick or Eat may become the new norm for years to come after another successful event.
The Pumpkin Path returned to Centennial Park on Oct. 29 with the goal of fundraising for the Jasper Food Bank.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see us going back to that Trick or Eat event,鈥� said Anna DeClercq, teen outreach worker with Municipality of Jasper鈥檚 Community Outreach Services.
鈥淭his is a very successful community event and a bit easier than lugging all the food around, and I think the food bank has said to us too the funds are easier to manage, so they can order what the food bank needs with the money instead of just collecting goods from around town.鈥�
Last year, the Pumpkin Path replaced the Youth Community Helpers鈥� annual Trick or Eat event, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The Pumpkin Path is a collaboration between Community Outreach Services, the Rotary Club of Jasper, Youth Community Helpers and the Jasper Foodbank Society.
The path itself was decorated with jack-o鈥�-lanterns, lights, inflatables and other Halloween decorations.
People were able to go through as many times as they liked with entry by cash donation and all funds going to the food bank.
Susan Cesco, co-president of the Rotary Club of Jasper, said the teens all carve pumpkins, but this year also saw partner groups contribute their own pumpkin carvings.
鈥淭hat was a new edition this year. That was kind of fun, having a little interactive partnership before the event actually started.鈥�
Many residents also dropped off their pumpkins to display for the evening.
The Pumpkin Path raised $4,527, a combination of $2527 in cash donations at the gate and a $2,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Jasper.
This does not include any e-transfers, and people can add to the total by making an e-transfer to the food bank at [email protected] (with the password of: FoodBank).
The Youth Community Helpers, who helped put on the event, are funded by Alberta Health Services through Community Outreach Services.
Around 19 youth volunteers helped with the event, while 485 people went through the path, a similar number compared to last year.
鈥淚 think we had great (attendance), even though it was a bit chilly for sure,鈥� DeClercq said.
鈥淚 was worried it was going to snow, so I thought we were quite lucky with the weather that was clear.鈥�
In addition to providing a fun event for the community, organizers sought to inspire leadership in the youth volunteers.
鈥淭hat was one thing that was really neat was to see the leadership that comes out and how the community helpers really took a lead in getting all their peers involved in the event and really helping all the way through from setup all the way to takedown,鈥� Cesco said.
鈥淚t was really neat to see that energy from the Jasper youth.鈥�
DeClercq said she has received lots of positive feedback from residents.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just a huge demonstration of community engagement, so I think it鈥檚 just having everybody kind of participating to have this wonderful outcome,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of community participation to make that event go.鈥�
The youth volunteers have told DeClercq that they would like to see the pumpkin carving become a competition with prizes in order to encourage participation next year.
