By Haley Mitchell Godwin

The Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up for the second annual first responders trunk or treat, set for Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at E.L. Turner Park in Luverne. Following a strong turnout last year, organizers are preparing for an even larger crowd and are asking any first responders interested in participating to RSVP by calling the sheriff’s office, if they haven’t already confirmed their attendance.

According to Crenshaw County Sheriff Terry Mears, the trunk or treat offers more than just Halloween fun — it also offers a unique opportunity for local first responders to connect with the community.

“This is a chance for the county’s first responders to give something back to the community,” Mears said. “It allows kids to interact with uniformed officers and other first responders, helping them understand that there is no reason to fear police, paramedics or firefighters. We are looking forward to a great turnout and are happy to give the kids another opportunity to dress up in their Halloween costumes and have some fun.”

The event was born from a desire of Captain Angel Hebert, jail administrator of the Crenshaw County Detention Facility, to build a stronger bond between the first responders and the communities they serve. 

“Sometimes people can be a little scared of first responders, especially kids,” Hebert said. “We wanted to include as many local agencies as possible so the community can come out, get to know us, and feel more comfortable around us.”

In addition to candy, some fire departments will set up games and other activities for children. Participants, including Crenshaw County District Judge Jon M. Folmar and Luverne Head Start, will hand out treats. Kids and adults alike are encouraged to wear costumes, but attendees are asked to avoid blood and gore that might frighten others.

“We’re going to have deputies and firefighters out there in uniform interacting with the kids,” Hebert said. “We’ll also have fire trucks, police cars and ambulances on hand so that the kids can actually touch the emergency vehicles, making it a hands-on experience that will hopefully make it less traumatic if, God forbid, they need to interact with us in an emergency situation.”

Local emergency response agencies and others will be set up so that attendees can move from vehicle to vehicle, collecting treats while getting familiar with the faces of those who serve Crenshaw County.

The event is open to Halloween enthusiasts of all ages, providing a night of family-friendly fun in a safe environment.