EATON — The Eaton Police Division spent Beggars’ Night in the city of Eaton delivering candy to trick-or-treaters — and provided four local families whose children were unable to participate with their own Halloween baskets.
On Thursday, Oct. 29, most children spent the two-hours walking from door-to-door, however because of disabilities, some children were unable to share the experience so many of remember fondly.
For the third year, Eaton Police officials made sure the night was as joyful for the disabled children as it was for others when they delivered Halloween baskets full of candy and other goodies to the homes of four children unable to participate in the tradition.
“It’s exciting to see how excited they are,” Eaton Police Chief Chad DePew said about delivering the candy to the homes of those children.
In the home of Cameron Bricker, Depew received a “fist bump” from the young girl who suffers from a rare skin condition preventing her from being in the sunlight. Her fist bump was a “thank you” to the man who brought her her very own Halloween basket.
The smiles and screams of joy Cameron displayed were enough to demonstrate how a small act of kindness can impact the world of a 12-year-old child.
“That’s the reward we get back after going through all the many trials and tribulations,” Cameron’s mother Shari Bricker said. “The joy she gives others — and the joy we see in her through these little moments such as her getting candy.”
It’s surprisingly uncommon for local departments in the area to do something like the Eaton Police do every year.
“I have to give kudos to our police department because they really go above and beyond with anything in this city and it’s just one of the many fine examples of them giving back,” Bricker said
Cameron once experienced beggars night like many other children but Bricker explained the change in Daylight Savings meant she was no longer able to do so.
“What makes it so special for Cameron is years ago the time change happened before Halloween, so she was able to go out,” Shari Bricker said.
The department also had several cars driving through the city stopping along the way to give candy to groups of children walking through the streets.
The police division was also joined by Eaton Fire and EMS in opening the doors to Station 1, where families lined up outside to wait their turn to walk through the facility. The two departments were set up with a room full of candy for those coming through their bays that night, and people lined up outside the department starting at 5:30 p.m.
