Moundsville Firefighters Hosting Trunk or Treat Event at Riverfront Park
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MOUNDSVILLE -- The Moundsville Professional Firefighters Local 543 is slated to host its first Halloween Trunk or Treat from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at the Riverfront Park.
Kevin Kimple, president of the local and assistant fire chief for the Moundsville City Fire Department, said attendees can wear costumes and are asked to bring one baby item that will be donated to the Wellspring Pregnancy Center of Moundsville. Examples of such items include diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, Desitin diaper rash cream and baby toys like rattles.
Tammy Hosenfeld, founder of the Wellspring Pregnancy Center and director of the Cadiz center, said the donations will be helpful to mothers in need.
"Anything that is used for infant and toddler care, including warm clothing and bedding, diapers, and wipes, etc., can be donated," she said.
She noted the Moundsville center's directors are Teresa Devlin and Chris Jacobs.
Kimple said this is the first time the union has held a trunk or treat and he estimates about 200 children will show up.
He noted Walmart of Moundsville donated the candy for the event. The Marshall County Co-Op donated mums to decorate the area.
Union members will be handing out the candy. There will also be a fire engine and ambulance for children to see. A Marshall County Sheriff's Department deputy will also be there to visit the children.
"It's part of our Keep Kids Safe program. We do multiple events giving back to the community. It's something we talked about ... something new," Kimple said of the Halloween event.
The parking lot beside the park is where the event will take place. Once the event begins the parking lot will be closed off from traffic to help keep the children safe.
Kimple said the idea behind having the emergency vehicles, firefighters and law enforcement attend is to help children get more comfortable seeing and talking to first responders.
Kimple said in the past he has heard parents try to use the threat of law enforcement to discipline their children in public. For example, he has heard parents tell their children, "If you don't behave that policeman is going to take you to jail."
"When parents say that they're teaching their kids to run away from cops; they're teaching their kids to be scared," he said, adding he hopes by meeting the first responders the children will not be afraid.
"We want children to run to the cops when they're scared, not run away. The same with EMS and firefighters," he said.
Kimple, who has served with the Moundsville Fire Department for 16 years, said the department has a full staff of five firefighters at this time. He encourages the community to attend the event as it will not only be fun, but with the donations help others in need at the same time.