For several years, we have been fortunate to have a Trunk or Treat event hosted by Holly M.,an incredible teacher now at Forest Lake schools who inspires her high school students to participate. Traditionally held at their school, this event has always been a delightful event for Crescent Cove families to witness the creativity and care poured into each decorated trunk.
This year, the high schoolers brought the Trunk or Treat to Crescent Cove itself. The driveway was filled with open trunks and vibrant decorations, including a scene inspired by the movie Up, complete with helium balloons for each child. The event featured fun games, spinning wheels for prizes, and, of course, treats. The students’ parents come to watch, proud of their children’s acts of service—a hopeful reminder for all parents, myself included, who wish for their children to grow up with generous hearts. Our dedicated volunteers joined in the fun, adding their own unique, colorful trunks. Even North Memorial arrived with a decorated ambulance!
Children old and young were smiling from ear to ear as we gasped and awed at their costumes. Some were pushed in wheelchairs, others with capes as they walked using their walkers, and others running through as many times as they could to collect a double dose of joy.
What makes Crescent Cove truly special is the way our Home holds both joy and sorrow. This event was no exception. Several parents who had recently experienced the loss of a child made their way back to Crescent Cove for the first time, encouraged by their other children—the siblings who knew this was the perfect occasion to return. Here, we embrace both grief and happiness. Halloween, with its playful costumes, somehow made it easier for tears to fall, and for emotions to be shared more openly. The reality beneath the princess gowns and superhero capes was that, even if we don’t always feel as strong as those costumes suggest, we find strength in one another.
At Crescent Cove, we lean into both the laughter and the tears. There’s always space for both, and in that shared experience, we find a profound connection.