Brandeis students trick-or-treated for canned goods on Halloween

Photo/Lucas Malo

Brandeis students canvassed Waltham neighborhoods on Halloween night – but not in search of chocolate and sugary treats.

The Waltham Group led Halloween for the Hungry, a community effort in its 31st consecutive year in which campus members go door to door asking for non-perishable food, clothing and personal care donations.

“It’s truly a collaborative event and very much a Brandeis tradition,” said Lucas Malo, the director of the department of community service. “Halloween for the Hungry celebrates what it means to be active in our community.”

This year, nearly 3,000 items collected by 100 volunteers will go to support the Middlesex Human Service Agency, which runs the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen and two local shelters.

On Halloween night, volunteers trick-or-treated in areas surrounding the Brandeis campus, including South Street, Main Street, North and South Prospect Hills and Charles River neighborhoods.

In addition, the Waltham Group have placed additional collection boxes inside Admissions, Bernstein-Marcus, Olin-Sang and outside the Department of Community Living for staff to donate more goods.

“Halloween for the Hungry illustrates how our community, both on and off campus, can come together to help those who may be food insecure,” Malo said. “Over the years this event has become a bonding transition for students to dress up, have a shared experience and explore and engage the city of Waltham for a very worthy cause.”

Joshua Lepson ’19 helped organize Halloween for the Hungry and said he looks forward to the outing each year.

“The process of going into Waltham is very rewarding,” said Lepson, who is from Brookline, Massachusetts and majors in biology. “The residence are very receptive to it, they’re actually expecting us and happy to see us.”