21 September 2020
ST. LOUIS– Halloween is {fast|quick} approaching, {but|however} trick-or-treating {during|throughout} a pandemic is a dicey {proposition|proposal}. It’s {unlikely|not likely} {many|numerous|lots of} {parents|moms and dads} will {want to|wish to} take their {children|kids} door-to-door, and even unlikelier that {neighbors|next-door neighbors} will {want|desire} kids putting their grubby fingers in the {candy|sweet} bowl. {Luckily|Fortunately|Thankfully}, one St. Louis {neighborhood|community|area} and {a local|a regional} {company|business} {thought of|thought about|considered} {a solution|a service|an option}.
Alana McMichael, {a resident|a local|a citizen|a homeowner} of St. Louis Hills, {began|started} {brainstorming|conceptualizing} last month as the pandemic threatened her {favorite|preferred} {holiday|vacation}. Her {idea|concept}: St. Louisans can leave candy-filled eggs on their front {lawns|yards}, and kids can take them and go, without {having to|needing to} knock on the door or come within {six|6} feet of {anyone|anybody} else. After {deciding|choosing} that Easter eggs {might|may} be a socially-distant {way|method} to {pass out|lose consciousness} {candy|sweet} to trick-or-treaters, she {began|started} {thinking|believing} up a backstory about {a playful|a lively|a spirited} poltergeist who {stole|took} the Easter Bunny’s eggs.
“Halloween is {a magical|a wonderful} time, and this year we {need|require} that magic {more than ever|especially},” McMichael {said|stated}. “St. Louis is {known|understood} for having a more {unique|distinct|special} Halloween experience, so I {thought|believed} a Halloween egg hunt {was worth|deserved} {a try|a shot}.”
({Full|Complete} disclosure: Alana McMichael is the author’s {wife|spouse|partner|other half|better half}, {but|however} she has no {financial|monetary} stake in the egg hunt {idea|concept}– she {just|simply} {really|truly|actually} likes Halloween
.) McMichael shared the {idea|concept} in {a neighborhood|a community|an area} Facebook group, and {someone|somebody} {suggested|recommended} she {reach out|connect} to American Carnival Mart. It {turns out|ends up}, the {company|business} was {working on|dealing with} {a similar|a comparable} {idea|concept}, so they put their heads together. Gut-punched by the pandemic, the {locally|in your area} owned novelty supply {store|shop} had a surplus of Easter Eggs {sitting around|relaxing}– {roughly|approximately} 4.5 million filled eggs and another 2.5 million unfilled, according to the {company|business}’s CEO, Mark Haug.
“{Beginning|Starting} in 2008, we {developed|established} our own line of plastic Easter Eggs to be {sold|offered} empty or filled {across|throughout} the {country|nation} for {small|little} to {large size|plus size} Easter Egg hunts,” Haug {said|stated}.”It {quickly|rapidly} grew from 2 percent of {the business|business} to {almost|practically|nearly} {50 percent|half} over the last 11 years. {Basically|Essentially|Generally}, it {replaced|changed} our core {business|company|service|organization}.”
{{But|However} with {most|many|a lot of|the majority of} Easter egg hunts canceled around St. Louis and {across|throughout} the {country|nation}, the {company|business} was {hit|struck} hard, {forced|required} to lay off half its {staff|personnel}, with the rest taking a pay cut or working {reduced|decreased|minimized|lowered} hours.
| With {most|many|a lot of|the majority of} Easter egg hunts canceled around St. Louis and {across|throughout} the {country|nation}, the {company|business} was {hit|struck} hard, {forced|required} to lay off half its {staff|personnel}, with the rest taking a pay cut or working {reduced|decreased|minimized|lowered} hours.
}”Eighty percent of our {business|company|service|organization} {relies on|depends on|counts on} {social gatherings|celebrations}, {events|occasions}, {festivals|celebrations}, {etc.|and so on}, “Haug {said|stated}. “We were on target for {a great|a fantastic|a terrific|an excellent} year, and {everything|whatever} came to {a halt|a stop} with COVID-19.”
He continued: “Not {only|just} has this {impacted|affected} us, {but|however} our partners Canterbury Enterprises in Shrewsbury, {a Sheltered|a Protected} workshop who fill all of our eggs and {assemble|put together} baskets for us. {Typically|Generally|Usually|Normally}, this time of year they are {stuffing|packing} {millions of|countless} eggs, which they {begin|start} in {May|Might} and it {doesn’t|does not} end {until|up until|till} the week {before|prior to} Easter. This {project|job|task} supports over 90 {employees|workers|staff members} with {disabilities|impairments|specials needs}; now they {have to go|need to go} out and {find|discover} {new|brand-new} {opportunities|chances} to {survive|make it through|endure}.”
Haug {said|stated} the pandemic {forced|required} the {company|business} to {rethink|reconsider|reassess} its {business|company|service|organization} and {come up with|develop|create} {new ideas|originalities} to {generate|produce|create} {revenue|income|profits|earnings}.
Halloween eggs? Why not? {So, this year, the {company|business} is {selling|offering} a Halloween Egg Hunt {kit|set|package}|This year, the {company|business} is {selling|offering} a Halloween Egg Hunt {kit|set|package}} that {comes with|includes|features} 50 pre-filled eggs and {a sign|an indication} reading: “{Find|Discover} 2 Eggs. {If you touch it, take it.|Take it if you touch it.} {Happy|Pleased|Delighted} {hunting|searching}.”
The {candy|sweet} is {temperature-stable and peanut-free|peanut-free and temperature-stable}, and the {kit|set|package} costs$ 7.99. Halloween: {Avoid|Prevent}’High {Risk|Danger|Threat}
and the eggs can be {sanitized|sterilized} {before|prior to} they’re opened {at home|in your home|in the house},”McMichael {said|stated}.”It {seemed like|looked like|appeared like} {the best|the very best} {way|method} to promote a low-contact {holiday|vacation} while keeping Halloween {safe and {special|unique}|{special|unique} and safe}.”And while it {won’t|will not} {quite|rather} be the {same|exact same|very same} this year, she’ll still be listening for jokes– from {a distance|a range}. {As for|When It Comes To} American Carnival Mart, Haug {says|states},”We are hoping by this spring that a
vaccine {has|has actually} been {developed|established} so the Easter Bunny can {once|when|as soon as} again spread his eggs cross the {country|nation}.” {For more information|To learn more|To find out more|For more details|For additional information} on the {company|business}, or to {purchase|buy|acquire} Halloween {treats|deals with}, {visit|go to|check out|see} www.funcarnival.com
. Let us {know|understand} in the {comments|remarks} if your {neighborhood|community|area} will be {participating|taking part|getting involved} or if you have your own {idea|concept} for how to trick-or-treat {safely|securely} this year. Source: patch.com