For 30 years, Shelley Hollingsworth has hosted and coordinated the Inner City Kids Safe Halloween Party in McCauley. First held at The Mustard Seed in 1994, the celebration has happened at different locations in collaboration with various community organizations including Bissell Centre, Sacred Heart School, the Boys and Girls Club, e4c, and most recently with the McCauley Community League at the McCauley Rink.

Shelley has been the beating heart of the event from the beginning and has never missed a year. Even though Shelley recently moved out of the neighbourhood, she remains a committed and consistent volunteer and contributor to McCauley life.

The Inner City Kids Safe Halloween party is designed as an alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating for kids in the neighbourhood. There are many activity stations and games, a free meal and treats, free costumes, and lots of other fun. 

Shelley is planning a big anniversary celebration for this year, which will be happening at the McCauley Rink  from 5 to 7 p.m. She relies on donations and volunteers for the celebration. She eagerly welcomes new volunteers or donors. Shelley is asking for donations of Halloween candy, toys to be given as costume prizes, and food such as  hot dogs, water bottles, bags of chips, and hot chocolate mix. Volunteers are needed to help run the games and distribute food and candy. 

Many local families will remember attending the Halloween party. Now parents who used to attend as children bring their kids! In fact, Shelley is also looking for pictures that anyone might have of the previous Halloween parties.

If you are interested in helping out as a volunteer or donor, you can contact this newspaper to be put in touch with Shelley. Contact information is on page three.

Congratulations Shelley on 30 years of fun, community, generosity, and for putting the kids of McCauley first!

Kathryn Rambow is the Manager of Community Development at e4c.