Costumes for Kids Kicks Off Halloween Donation Campaign in Cedar Rapids

Fall is a fantastic time of year.  The leaves begin to change, if you can find them in Iowa, you can see some amazing sights.  The temperature cools off, in the evening, but some of the days are still kinda warm.  Not kinda warn, they are downright hot.  It was 97 the other day and that's in the later days of September.  I'll say that it's not all bad and here's why.  If we can keep this weather through the end of October, Halloween will be much better.  Keep the cold at bay until after the one evening you're allowed to talk to strangers AND take candy from them. That day is Halloween!!  🎃 Every other day of the year it is frowned upon.

Warmer weather for Halloween

We want the warmer weather because having to wear a coat when you're Darth Vader, well, it takes away from the aesthetic.  Darth Vader didn't wear a coat.  The Emporer didn't hassle Darth Vader about wearing his coat because he'd catch a cold.  While we're on the subject Dracula doesn't wear a coat either.  I mean maybe he should because vampires are pretty cold in general but that's for another day.

How can you donate new or gently used Halloween costumes?

Speaking of costumes, there's an amazing program that gets new or gently used Halloween costumes and distributes them to Waypoint Services.  Dan Alpers's annual campaign returns with an opportunity to help get Halloween costumes to kids who want them.  Costumes for Kids put donation boxes in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding area.  You swing by and drop the new or gently used Halloween costume in the box and they'll make sure it gets to a child who really wants it.  Some of the locations that have a collection box are:

Milex Complete Auto Care 2010 Sylvia Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

Godfather's Pizza (T&C Shopping Center) 3647 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

NewBo Market  1100 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

There is still time to become a drop-off location

It's not too late to become a drop-off location.  The more the merrier.  Follow Their Facebook page Costumes for Kids

The event all comes together at NewBoCity Market for distribution.

Why does Dan do it?

Dan had this to say about why he goes all out for the kids in the community.  'I used to have a non-profit gaming organization that gathered kids and adults together to enjoy collectible card game tournaments such as Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic the Gathering. Over the years, we would have events designed to help charities such as The American Cancer Society, etc. We did a project called Games for Troops and one year, because of my passion for Halloween, I came up with Costumes for Kids. That was approximately 2011. We took a couple of years off and got back to it in 2020'.

Here we are in 2024, gathering more costumes and making children smile and that's thanks to Dan and you.