Fall 2010 issue — This All Hallow’s Eve, a community initiative to create healthier and more Earth-friendly holidays finds itself more than 2,800 miles from where it started.
What started out as a Seattle-area project in the town of Issaquah, Wash., has spread nationwide like wildfire, through media support, word of mouth and lots of support from businesses and people all over the country.
Corey Colwell-Lipson, founder of Green Halloween, started the idea after trick-or treating with her own two children in the fall of 2006.
“We went to some houses that had some non-conventional items, like bubbles and stickers, and the kids got so excited about it,” she explained. “After we got done, we were talking about it and realized that kids may be over-exposed to candy nowadays. They don’t necessarily view it as a treat, and we saw a window of opportunity to change the tradition.”
In coming up with the idea of making Halloween healthier, they decided to try to put an Earth-friendly spin on it too. They unveiled Green Halloween in the spring of 2007 and have gotten overwhelming response — from both their hometown of Issaquah and throughout the nation.
In 2008, Tree Swing, a Seattle, Wash.-based nonprofit that “through innovative partnerships and programs, is dedicated to improving the health of children and preventing childhood obesity,” was the beneficiary of Green Halloween profits.
“I wanted to do it as a community service,” said Colwell-Lipison. “So all the money received last year went to this brand new non-profit, Tree Swing. They asked if Green Halloween could be an official program, so now I am the director of Green Halloween, a program of TreeSwing.”
As for the candy collected in Colwell-Lipson’s area, it was composted, because, as she said, “Daddy doesn’t need it either.”
“I don’t think Halloween will ever not be about candy, but we can reduce the treats and add in the treasures,” Colwell-Lipison said. “We can include things that are from nature, or recycled, or even cost-free. Just think about times when you are doing laundry and all the treasures you find in your children’s clothes. They keep stones, coins and feathers. These are all treasures to them, and it is just how we as parents approach it.”
On the Green Halloween Web site, at www.greenhalloween.org, there are sections for parents, kids and schools about ways to help out locally. There is information about being a volunteer coordinator of Green Halloween, how to host a green Halloween party, talking to schools and the community about becoming involved with Green Halloween, and much more.
Green Halloween is now an official program of EcoMom Alliance, a global network of moms and a 501(c)3 non-profit, with a Web site at http://ecomomalliance.ning.com. Heading into their fourth year, they are excited to include lots of new cities with Green Halloween events and/or trick-or-treat trails. Just some of the participating cities include: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Washington, D.C, Chicago and New York City.
Also, for those interested in participating in their third annual trick-or-treat bag design contest, for bags that are sold all over the country, the contest is open to kids up to age 13. The template/entry form was made available online at http://www.chicobag.com/t-green_halloween.aspx on Sept. 1 and entries must be received by Nov. 5. Of the sales, 10 percent supports Green Halloween.
For information on how to get a school or community involved, visit www.greenhalloween.org, where you can also find great new resources such as a brand new community page/discussion board (swap costumes, share ideas), downloadable tool kits and even a fun interactive game. They are also on Twitter and Facebook at GreenHalloween.
