When October rolls around, there are many activities and events for college students to participate in. From hay rides to apple picking to Halloween events, autumn serves as the perfect season for a great time with friends. What college students don't usually think about, is that they can still do these things while helping others in the process! This Halloween, Marist College students can get involved and support the local Marist and Poughkeepsie community by taking part in any one of these activities.

Trick-or-Treat For UNICEF

Remember those little orange Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes handed out to us all throughout elementary and middle school? Well hey, it’s never too late to still take part in the cause!

Salvation Army

Halloween costumes are expensive these days, particularly on the budget of a college student. Take a trip to a local Salvation Army, where your purchases will donate money to support lower-income families.

Spirit Halloween

Shop at one of the nearest Spirit Halloween stores! Spirit Halloween stores across the country have raised over $22 million to “make hospitals less scary for kids and their families” in the children’s wards of local hospitals. To contribute to their cause, you and your friends can give money or supplies to any one of their locations in store or online.

Donate Candy!

You can also donate candy to schools or children’s hospitals in the area. No one would disagree that a Snickers bar or Nerds box can immediately make someone’s day.

Carve Pumpkins With The Community

Carve pumpkins or make Halloween arts and crafts with kids or senior citizens at a local community or senior center.These activities are not only enjoyable for everyone involved, but are also very rewarding.

Marist College Women's "Pink Out" Soccer Game

The Marist College women’s soccer team will be having a “Pink Out” breast cancer awareness game in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Support your fellow Red Foxes and come out for a good cause!

Marist College Football Halloween Game

The Marist College football team will be hosting a Halloween home game on October 31st. At the game, Marist will have a Trick-or-Treat and Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Not only will this be another chance to support a good cause, but it will be an opportunity to get together with friends and do something fun on Halloween.

Collect Food and Canned Goods

Collect food and canned goods for a local soup kitchen in Poughkeepsie. Check out all soup kitchens and food pantries in the area.

Take A Trip To Chipotle

On Halloween, from 5 pm until close, Chipotle is offering a unique deal that involves receiving a $3 "Boo"rito. Wear a costume with an “unnecessary” addition to it, and you are eligible for this special offer. The proceeds, up to $1,000,000, will go to the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation. The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation supports farmers in creating ways of making future food practices more sustainable. They strive to promote better care for livestock and nutritional education, among other practices in their industry. Though the nearest Chipotle is about thirty minutes from the Marist College campus, the trip is well worth the cause.

This short list encompasses just a few of the many options possible for college students to get involved in within the area. From helping out in the community to supporting your fellow Red Foxes, you could be making a difference. So this Halloween, before you decide to watch movies in your dorm all weekend, choose from one of these ideas to have a fun, rewarding October.