Community Corner
STEP to Collect Halloween Costumes for Local Military Children in Need
Non-profit encourages community members to donate new or gently used Halloween costumes through Sept. 30 to support local military families
Spooky season is upon us. Around this time of year, families and parents everywhere are beginning to purchase Halloween decorations and their children’s costumes to get ready for the holiday. However, for local military families facing financial constraints and the high cost of living, purchasing Halloween costumes may be last on the list of priorities.
To help relieve this financial strain, non-profit Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) is hosting its inaugural “Halloween Costume Drive” to collect new or gently used costumes through Sept. 30. The organization aims to collect 600 age-appropriate costumes for children ages 0-13. Once the drive is complete, the costumes collected will be distributed at STEP’s monthly distribution event on Saturday, Oct. 19. Pre-registration for STEP’s monthly distribution event is required.
“Our team of veterans and military allies here at STEP know the financial challenges that come with service,” says Tony Teravainen, CEO and co-founder, STEP. “From relocation to deployment, there are many reasons why military families face financial stress and find it difficult to prepare for holiday purchases. We provide military families with financial education and support to lighten their load with essential supplies so they don’t have to choose between spending money on a Halloween costume or putting food on the table.”
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Donations can be made at STEP’s warehouse (9915 Businesspark Ave. # A, San Diego, CA 92131) and at The Barron Team’s office (10085 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92131) in the Scripps Ranch area. Donors can also purchase costumes online from the comfort of their homes at STEP’s virtual store, as well as make monetary donations directly to the non-profit by check or credit card to help the organization purchase costumes in time to meet its campaign goal.
Community partners for STEP’s first-ever “Halloween Costume Drive” includes Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary and The Barron Team. If you’re interested in partnering with STEP on its costume drive, please contact Barb Fiorina at barb.fiorina@teamstepusa.org. More information is available at teamstepusa.org/costumedrive.
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ABOUT SUPPORT THE ENLISTED PROJECT (STEP)
Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) has just completed its 12th year serving young military and Veteran families facing financial crisis. As a nonprofit, community-funded agency, STEP has positively touched more than 290,000 military lives and boasts a 90% success rate at permanently changing financial behaviors over the 7,400 families served through its Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) Program. The organization’s future 10-year strategy is to expand beyond Southern California and Washington State to serve more families across the United States.
Follow STEP on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and visit TeamSTEPUSA.org for more information on how to support and get involved with the organization.
