by Rachel Hunter
Over 1,200 North Country community members attended the 2022 Trunk or Treat in Gouverneur. The annual event was sponsored by the Community Health Center of the North Country and Seaway Valley Prevention Council who worked in partnership with the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association and Gouverneur Central School District. This year, the event returned to a walk-through format following the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
The Community Health Center of the North Country and the Seaway Valley Prevention Council started the event in 2018 and 2019, and received record-breaking success both years with attendance levels near 1,500 persons. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic crisis, but was warmly welcomed back to the Gouverneur community in 2021 with nearly 1,000 persons in attendance. The Community Health Center of the North Country and Seaway Valley Prevention Council held three successful Trunk or Treat events across the North Country, in Gouverneur, Ogdensburg and Massena. A grand total of nearly 4,000 North Country residents and 122 decorated trunks were in attendance.
Community Health Center of the North Country spokesperson Ray Babowicz told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that the attendance in 2022 shows a promising return to pre-COVID level attendance.
All treaters in attendance at the 2022 Gouverneur Trunk or Treat received a treat bag, thanks to the Seaway Valley Prevention Council of the North Country. Due to the generous contributions from the many organizations, clubs, local businesses, and community members in attendance, a total of 40 decorated trunks were set up down the fairgrounds midway to distribute “treats” to all those in attendance. The treats ranged from the sweet to the nutritious, as well as coloring books, snap bracelets, water bottles and so much more. With the proclamation, “Trick or treat!” the youngsters took the available treats. The fairgrounds was the ideal locations as the midway was a walkable location for people of all ages, all abilities. Much gratitude to all those who made the event a success in the Gouverneur community.
The event included decorated trunks by the Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce, Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association, Seaway Valley Prevention Council, Community Health Center of the North Country, Kiwanis Club of Gouverneur, Silas Wainwright VFW Post No. 6338, Head Start, Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Lawrence County Youth Advocate Programs, Gouverneur Public Library, among many others. Also in attendance were the Gouverneur Fire Department, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gouverneur Rescue Squad. The Gouverneur Police Department was also on scene.
The Fourth Annual Gouverneur Trunk or Treat event once again served as a fun, family-friendly way to get the word out about what services are available for people dealing with substance use issues. The idea originated with the Seaway Valley Prevention Council who in partnership with the Massena Drug-Free Community Coalition held a successful Trunk or Treat at Massena High School, which attracted hundreds of costumed children. Piggybacking on this rousing success while seeking a fun, engaging way to spread the word in the local community about the services available to those with substance use issues, SVPC and CHCNC thought the best way would be to bring a Trunk or Treat event to Gouverneur. Now, Gouverneur-area families say that it has become a tradition that they look forward to each Halloween.
For more info on how you can help at the Fifth Annual Gouverneur Trunk or Treat in 2023, call the Seaway Valley Prevention Council at (315) 713-4861 or visit svpc.net. For more information about the Community Health Center of the North Country, visit chcnorthcountry.org.