<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3AiDZa_0wEyNlFh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3AiDZa_0wEyNlFh00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Participants hand out candy to kids during Ghoulish Goodies and Giving on Oct. 19 at Lot 49. Volunteers dressed up and decorated their trunks to hand out candy to those in attendance. Photo by Joel Solis</figcaption></figure>There were no tricks, just treats at the Ghoulish Goodies and Giving on Saturday at Lot 49.The School of Social Work and Tarrant Area Food Bank partnered for the food giveaway and trunk-or-treat event. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2c5yGK_0wEyNlFh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2c5yGK_0wEyNlFh00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>Volunteers participate in the Ghoulish Goodies and Giving event Oct. 19 at Lot 49. Participants decorated their trunks for the event. Photo by Joel Solis</figcaption></figure>As a line of cars paraded through the parking lot to receive food like russet potatoes and bananas, students and faculty gave away food packages. “I’m just a huge fan of giving back to my community, so when I heard about the event, I had to show up and do my part,” psychology junior Mariah Maryman said. Maryman volunteered alongside psychology junior Paris Sims. Sims said she remembers being in the same position needing help and wishing someone was there for her. Now, she’s in a position where she can give back to others. “Sometimes when you’re on the education side, you can become disconnected and this allows us to maintain that strong connection with our community and allows us to give back, to show the folks here in Arlington that we care deeply about who they are and about what our role is here,” said Kirk Foster, dean of the School of Social Work. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3aApU5_0wEyNlFh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3aApU5_0wEyNlFh00" width="1763" height="1175" ><figcaption>A volunteer holds a bag of potatoes during Ghoulish Goodies and Giving on Oct. 19 at Lot 49. The event provided families with food such as potatoes, cabbages, masa and bananas. Photo by Joel Solis</figcaption></figure>On the other side of the lot, parked cars with open trunks were decorated in various themes, from Super Mario Bros. to rubber ducks and bubbles. The children kept busy strolling from car to car to receive their treats, playing in a bounce house and getting their faces painted. Regina Praetorius, associate dean for academic and student affairs in the School of Social Work, volunteered for the event with her son to give him more experience in community service. She decorated her trunk with a Día de los Muertos-themed curtain her son hid behind to give candy to attendees. “I love being in this community, and so having the opportunity to give on a beautiful day like today is fun,” she said. “It seems to also capture why I became a social worker, which was to help others and to improve the human experience.” <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Zn9Dj_0wEyNlFh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Zn9Dj_0wEyNlFh00" width="1690" height="1226" ><figcaption>Arlington resident Sahniyah Millard, 8, grabs candy from a bucket during Ghoulish Goodies and Giving on Oct. 19 at Lot 49.&nbsp; Candy was handed out during the event. Photo by Joel Solis</figcaption></figure>UTA alumni Cassidy and Kay Brady-Hatfield decorated their car with skeletons and wore costumes to match. Cassidy said came to volunteer because they saw a need for more alumni to contribute to the community. “Social work is rooted in community and it is important for us to always remember that and situate ourselves within the community context and not forget why we do what we do,” Foster said. </div></body>

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School of Social Work's Ghoulish Goodies and Giving treats community with food drive

There were no tricks, just treats at the Ghoulish Goodies and Giving on Saturday at Lot 49. The School of Social Work and Tarrant Area Food Bank partnered for the food giveaway and trunk-or-treat event. As a line of cars paraded through the parking lot to receive food like russet...