DERRY — More than 150 trick-or-treaters will now be able to join in the fun on Halloween night, sporting a costume that was donated to the Upper Room's Boo-tique.
Now in its second year, the costume drive was headed up by Janis Lilly, coordinator for the Upper Room's Teen Information for Parenting Success program. The Upper Room is a family resource center on Tsienneto Road.
"This is a great way to show our clients that they can still celebrate Halloween while living on a limited means," Lilly said. "It teaches them how to use community resources and to save their money for things like the electric bill."
Local businesses, including The Costume Gallery, Rig A'Tonys, Dollar Bills and the Recreation Department joined the Upper Room as drop-off points for new and gently used infant, children, and teen Halloween costumes and accessories. Beginning last Saturday, families could stop by the Upper Room to pick out a costume.
"We have about 100 used costumes," Lilly said. "The Exchange Club of Salem also sponsored this as one of its projects and provided us with 50 new costumes."
Lilly said she had more response last year, but thinks it's because people were cleaning out their closets and brought costumes from years past.
"This year, we probably got the old costumes from just last year," she said.
Lilly said at least 50 families will benefit from the costume drive.
"I've wanted to do this project for so many years," Lilly said. "I moved here a year and a half ago and couldn't wait to start."
Other programs participating in the Boo-tique were the Upper Room's Families on the Go, the Sonshine Food Pantry and the Center for Life Management.
"We've also received calls from the foster system, looking for costumes," Lilly said. "This is a child-centered, magical holiday and we want to make it possible for those who just can't afford the cost of a costume."
For more information on this and other programs offered by the Upper Room, visit urteachers.org.
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