FUNKE HOSTS FIRST EVER “HALLOWEEN IN THE HALLWAY” EVENT AT SCHOOL 45

Rich Funke

October 28, 2015

Senator Rich Funke hosted his first-ever Halloween in the Hallway event, a safe trick-or-treat experience for students at the Rochester City School District (RCSD) School No. 45. Hundreds of children attended to enjoy candy and fresh apple give-aways, face-paintings, and Halloween-themed games like Pin the Tail on the Pumpkin, Pumpkin Bowling, and Donuts on a String, among others.


“I’m proud to have partnered with the Rochester City School District, Time Warner Cable, and Foodlink to host our first-ever Halloween in the Hallway event at School 45,” said Funke. “Every kid deserves to enjoy a safe trick-or-treating experience for Halloween, so I am grateful to our partners for offering candy give-aways and games, all at no cost to taxpayers. I hope you and yours have a safe and enjoyable Halloween this Saturday as well.”


Thanks to the generosity of community partners, features at the event were provided at no cost to taxpayers. Sponsors of Halloween in the Hallway include: RCSD, Time Warner Cable, Foodlink, Wegmans, CVS, Costco, and Duvall Farms.


"A Halloween party is a fun way to engage families in school and to close the opportunity gap for many of our students," said RCSD Superintendent of Schools Bolgen Vargas, Ed.D. "We appreciate the generosity of Senator Funke and community partners in hosting this event at School No. 45, which will allow our children to participate in enjoyable holiday activities in a safe environment at school."


School 45 is excited to host an event in our school that will bring our whole community together for the children,” said Rhonda Morien, Principal of School No. 45.  “This was a great opportunity for our 7th and 8th grade leaders to organize and lead an event for the younger kids while learning the value of giving back to their community. We are so thankful for all of the local businesses who made donations to help make this a success and look forward to an exciting night with the families of Rochester!


"Foodlink values its partnership with the RCSD," said Mitch Gruber, Director of Programs & Innovation, Foodlink, "We partner on so many levels and at this particular event at School 45 we are happy to build on this partnership by providing children with apples and families with the resources to make healthy choices, a part of our mission to end hunger and leverage the power of food."


"We're delighted to partner with Senator Funke for this festive event,” said Mark Fitchett, AVP of Operations for Time Warner Cable, Western New York. “It's a great way for families to enjoy Halloween treats and games in a safe environment."



In preparation for Saturday’s Halloween holiday, Funke also offers families the following tips to enjoy a safe trick-or-treat experience:


·        Discard any unwrapped candy or anything that looks questionable or unsafe
·        Avoid wearing costumes made of flammable materials
·        After dark, wear light colored clothing or illuminating tape
·        Don’t burn pumpkin candles unattended, or opt for battery powered candles
·        Place automobiles in the garage, driveway, or backyard if necessary
·        Have children trick-or-treat in groups, preferably supervised by an adult
·        Use face paint instead of masks to reduce the likelihood of impaired vision
·        Visit only the homes of friends or people in the neighborhood that you know
·        Transfer movable outdoor items such as flowerpots to the house or garage