Greek Trick-or-Treat is an annual event sponsored by the ISU greek community. This year the event takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday on Sorority Circle.

All Collegiate Panhellenic Council sorority and Interfraternity Council fraternity chapters participate in the event by sending three delegates per chapter to help donate candy.

“Hosting chapters are located on Sorority Circle and are asked to house the chapter delegates, sponsor games, hand out candy and decorate for the Halloween season,” said Shannon Cooper, Collegiate Panhellenic Council vice president of philanthropy and community service. “Also, in Greek Triangle we will be offering hot cider, hot chocolate and cookies to all attendees.”

This event invites all children in the Ames community who are primary aged and younger to attend.

“I love this event because it offers children a safe, warm and dry place to trick or treat and get lots of candy without having to walk all over a neighborhood,” Cooper said. “I also think it is more fun because it offers games rather than just going up to the door and receiving candy.”

Former volunteers of the Greek Trick-or-Treat event look forward to its arrival each October because of its festivity and individuality.

“This volunteer opportunity is unique because it includes a wide range of ages and has a holiday spin on it,” said Elise Quam, Collegiate Panhellenic Council vice president of scholarship. “Not only do the greek volunteers get to relive the excitement of trick-or-treating, but they also get to interact with the young children of the Ames community as well as their families. My favorite part was walking through all of the hosting chapter houses to see their decorations and creative costumes. It’s also cool to bring back a childhood favorite activity to a college campus.”

The event benefits both the children and college students alike.

“Last fall I dressed up as a vintage football player and handed out candy to what seemed like hundreds of children at Sigma Pi fraternity,” said Lauren Nissen, a previous Greek Trick-or-Treat volunteer. “It was so entertaining, and I don’t think greek communities are ever pictured in situations like that in which groups of college students are putting time aside just to make a holiday extra special for children.”

Nissen added that the event didn’t seem like work at all to her, but instead an evening full of fun with deserving kids.

Greek Trick-or-Treat is focused on the local children and “welcomes them and their families into our chapters to show them how much we care about being a part of the Ames community,” said Ryan Helling, vice president of community service and philanthropy for the Interfraternity Council.