From left, Lisa Haun, Zoe Steele, Maddie Thomas and Alexa Lindholm.
As she walked from station to station filling a bag with candy, chips, gum and other goodies, Jia Dugan had a question for Lisa Haun: “Why is this better than any treat bag I’ve ever received?”
Haun had an answer: “Everyone was so generous.”
They were so generous that Brookfield trustees, who collected money and goodie donations so they can give the bags to Brookfield school students, plan to fill bags for high school students in addition to the kindergarten through eighth-graders they originally intended to treat.
Haun, the wife of Trustee Ron Haun, organized the 24 treat stations, posted signs listing how many of each item should go into a bag, and even did a time study to find out how long it takes to fill a bag – about two minutes – so she could estimate how long it will take to fill all 750 bags destined for elementary and middle school students.
Although many people were critical of Trustee Haun and Trustee Gary Lees for deciding to mark Halloween in this way, instead of establishing trick-or-treat hours, Lees said the response from local businesses and individuals shows that many support their decision.
“They were looking out for the children’s safety and the seniors’ (citizens’s) safety,” he said.
Five members of the Brookfield High School Interact Club, Jia, Jenae Pugh, Zoe Steele, Maddie Thomas and Alexa Lindholm, helped pack bags Oct. 23. Lisa Haun said she did not expect they all would be filled and that at least one more day would be needed to load up the 400 high school bags.
“This is just positive news,” Lees said. “This means the school and ourselves are moving in a positive direction.”
Donors were Kirila Fire, Carpenter’s Auto and Towing, Rien Construction, Uniserv, Briceland Funeral Service, Industrial Air Control, Gibson Insurance Agency, state Rep. Gil Blair, Panelmatic Building Solutions, Double D Taxidermy, Mr. D’s Delicious Fresh Foods, Nick Strimbu Trucking, Mark’s Collision and Custom, Daffin’s Candy, L&M Processing, John Zebroski Agency, Brookfield Sparkle Market, Brookfield Subway, VendRick Construction, PI&I Motor Express, Black Sheep Bacon, Biscottini Gourmet Cakes and Biscotti, Green’s Floral Shop, Yankee Lake Inn, Kirila Contractors, DSL Excavating, T&D Landscaping and Tree Service, Becdel Controls Inc., Code Enforcement Officer Pete Ross, Brookfield Township Road Department, Sereday’s, Yankee Run Golf Course, Brookfield Township Police Department, Fire Chief David Masirovits, Kirila Contractors, Attorney Robert Kokor, Dr. Shani Vaturi, Mark and Jan Ferrara, Ron and Lisa Haun, Gary and Fena Lees, Dan and Carolyn Suttles, Martin Taub, Dion and Linda Magestro, Mike and Judy Demay, John Wilkes, Betty Blystone and anonymous donors.
Jia Dugan, left, and Jenae Pugh.
