Halloween Trick-or-Treat Times and Dates 2023
It is time for finishing touches on costumes and trips to the candy store because Halloween is almost here! Trick-or-treating will take place locally at various times between Oct. 26-31. We have created a guide to trick-or treating locally.
Oct. 26
Defiance: 6-7:30pm
Oct. 28
Bellevue: 5-7pm
Clyde: 5:30-6:30pm
Findlay: 6-8pm
Fostoria: 5:30-7pm
Oct. 29
Delta: 5:30-7pm
Fremont: 4-6pm
Gibsonburg: 5-7pm
Green Springs: 6-7pm
Tiffin: 3-5pm
Oct. 31
Bowling Green: 6:30-8pm
Holland: 6-8pm
Maumee: 6-8pm
Napoleon: 6-7:30pm
Norwalk: 6-7:30 pm
Oak Harbor: Downtown trick or treat at 5:30-6:30pm; Residential trick or treat at 6-7:30pm
Oregon: 6-8pm
Ottawa Hills: 6-8pm
Pemberville: 5:30-7pm
Perrysburg: 6-8 pm
Port Clinton: 6-8 pm
Rossford: 6-8 pm
Sylvania/Sylvania Township: 6-7:30pm
Toledo: 6-8 p.m.
Waterville: 6-8pm
Whitehouse: 6-8 pm
Did we miss your city? Let us know and we will update our list.
As We Grow Diaper Bank Helps Families in Need
Diaper need is a growing problem impacting parents across the country, including right here in Northwest Ohio. As diaper prices continue to surge, nearly one in two families cannot afford enough diapers for their children. Thanks to the Junior League of Toledo and their community partners, resources are available for parents to help keep their infant or child clean, dry, and healthy.
A Growing Crisis
Clean diapers are a basic need of every baby and toddler. However, recent data from the National Diaper Bank Network shows that an increased number of families struggle to afford enough diapers for their children.
These babies are vulnerable to diaper rash and urinary tract infections and often have more trips to the doctor. Parents may have to miss work or school because they cannot afford the supply of diapers required to leave their baby in childcare. Women who have diaper needs for their children often struggle with postpartum depression, trauma and difficulties with stress management, all factors impacting a child’s health and development.
Helping Families in the Toledo area
The Junior League of Toledo’s diaper bank, As We Grow, addresses the diaper need in Lucas County. As We Grow distributes diapers, wipes, and creams directly to community partners that are best equipped to provide the supplies to families that need it most. The As We Grow diaper bank started in December 2020 and to date, they have donated 138,926 diapers to families in need.
“The Junior League of Toledo is involved with many community projects, but we identified such a need in the community for parents requiring diapers for their children,” shared Colleen Lavoy, As We Grow project chair. “Diapers and wipes are not covered under programs like WIC, so it can become a real stressor for families to keep their children in clean, dry diapers.”
The Junior League partners with social service agencies and other community partners to distribute the diapers and supplies to families in need. Current community partners include the Getting to One, the Parent Empowerment Institute, and Paramount.
Community Partners
Through the Getting to One program, the Salvation Army provides diapers to more than 300 babies/toddlers in Lucas County each month. Diapers can be requested once families are connected with a community health worker. Diapers are distributed at The Salvation Army location on Erie St. and families can call 419-241-1138 for more information.
“We as a community don’t realize how important something as simple as a package of diapers can be in the life of a child,” shared Elizabeth Schwandt, Salvation Army operations manager. “It can be life changing!”
Diapers are also available as part of the Parent Empowerment Institute, a community outreach program through Lucas County Children Services.
“We host free parenting classes within the community,” shared Andrea Sims, Parent Empowerment Institute coordinator. “Any parent or caregiver who attends our parenting group has access to the diapers. There is no proof of income necessary to get the diapers. Our groups are held weekly and there are diapers available at every group meeting.”
The weekly parenting groups are held at multiple locations within the community including Wayman Palmer YMCA, East Toledo Family Center, Grace Community Center, Family House Shelter, and The Greenbelt Apartment’s Community Room. Parenting classes are free to families in Lucas County, and all are welcome to attend. To learn more about the classes call Andrea Sims at 419-213-3383.
Interested in Helping?
The As We Grow program is supported by corporate and individual donations as well as diaper drives held throughout the year. Diaper collection boxes can often be found throughout the community and virtual diaper drives allow people to easily make a monetary donation to this worthy cause.
“As a partner with the National Diaper Bank Network we are able to get a discount on bulk diaper orders,” Colleen shared. “Therefore, it is most cost effective for people to donate directly to the As We Grow diaper bank.”
Donations can be made at juniorleaguetoledo.org. If you are interested in hosting a diaper drive, making a corporate contribution, have diapers to donate, or want to learn more about the As We Grow program contact the Junior League of Toledo at 419-474-6262, [email protected] or visit juniorleaguetoledo.org
Ohio Legislation Looks at Doula Services
Maternal care in Ohio is in dire need of improvement. Out of 50 states, Ohio ranks number 21 in maternal mortality. In addition, Ohio has a pre-term birth rate of 10.9 percent. For this reason, the March of Dimes gave the state of Ohio a D+ grade for preterm births. The state is looking to improve these numbers with the help of doula services.
House Bill 142, which has received bipartisan support, was passed in the House on June 1, and now awaits a decision in the Senate. The bill would allow doula services to be covered under Medicaid. It would also set up a registry of doulas, along with a board that would oversee certification programs as part of maternal and infant support programs.
“Doulas can assist parents through labor and birth by providing accurate information and continuous physical and emotional support, regardless of hospital shift changes,” said Christine Scarlett, RN, BSN and Toledo area doula. Scarlett is also a CBC, or certified lactation counselor, and La Leche League Leader with extensive experience working with moms and infants.
“Statistically, women with continuous labor support have better birth outcomes, which include fewer cesarean sections, a lower rate of vacuum and forceps deliveries, use of less pain medication and epidural anesthesia, greater levels of breastfeeding success, and higher levels of satisfaction with their childbearing experience,” Scarlett said.
Minority women have significantly higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, and may not have access to important medical care. Doulas can act as a health advocate for these mothers, providing emotional and physical support during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
“I am both a Certified Birth Doula (CBD) and a Certified Postpartum Doula (PCD) in order to provide the full range of services for the childbearing year,” Scarlett said. “Birth doulas usually meet with pregnant women to help them clarify what kind of birth experience they are looking for, then meet them while in labor and continuously support them during the birth process through recovery and initiation of breastfeeding and bonding during the Golden Hour following birth.”
Scarlett said that doulas also meet with the mother and family after the birth to assess what kind of in-home help the family may need while adjusting to life with a newborn.
“First time moms are more likely to want help with learning how to feed and care for their baby. Experienced parents are often more in need of help with siblings, meal prep, errands and household management.”
Providing proper support for mothers will lead to healthier births and better beginnings for infants, which also benefits the entire community.
“Maternal and infant care is an important issue because the health of the mother-baby dyad has a ripple effect on the entire family unit as well as the workplace if the mom is employed outside the home,” Scarlett said. “Good support during pregnancy, birth and postpartum can prevent some perinatal mood disorders and lead to a positive transition to parenthood.”
To learn more about doulas, visit dona.org. To find a local birth or postpartum doula, check out Toledo Area Parent’s roundup of local doulas here.
4 Practical Ways to Tame the Homework Headache
Everyone had a busy day. Maybe it was at school learning and working hard. Maybe it was at home keeping up with the household. Maybe it was at work doing what you love or what needs to be done. Maybe it was endless errands that leave you feeling like you spent the day in the car.
No matter how you spent the busy day, now everyone is home and ready to relax, but there’s that pesky homework to take care of. Before it turns into a battle of wills and even tears try these tips to keep the peace.
Be present
I know this is hard. We have so much to do, and we multitask. Dinner is not going to cook itself, right? Multitasking, however, may be causing more stress and mistakes.
The more present we can be the more quickly things seem to get accomplished. If your child struggles with homework your availability can make a big difference allowing you to answer a question before frustration takes over.
Side by side reading
Many kids have reading time as part of their homework. Show kids that reading is a priority by making that time a family reading time. Everyone can participate.
Grab something for yourself and sit down and read. It can be the novel collecting dust on your nightstand or the newspaper. Even something for work could count here as long as it is dedicated reading time. (And no, Facebook doesn’t count.) Even little kids can sit with a stack of books to look through. Modeling good reading habits goes a long way in teaching kids that reading is a good part of everyone’s life.
Know what makes your child tick
Some people insist doing homework right when kids get home is the best way to get it done. While this ensures a less tired child, that may not work for every kid.
Some kids need time to decompress from a busy school day. You may find that a half-hour for snacks and playing outside works wonders. Try out some different times and see what works for your child. Once you find what works best, try to make it consistent.
Wave the white flag
Sometimes you just need to surrender. There are days that feel overwhelming and the homework is just too much. While it is important to teach responsibility we need to be able to recognize when something is truly too difficult for a child to work on independently. Often this indicates that more instruction is needed in the classroom before the child can do it without teacher support at home.
Instead of forcing a truly difficult task, talk about it with your child and make a note for the teacher that it was exceptionally hard. This is not an excuse for not wanting to do homework. Most teachers would much rather know that a student is struggling at home than have a child in tears over their work or, even worse, a parent complete the assignment.
Homework is an opportunity to practice things learned in class and provide feedback for the teacher about how much of a concept a child grasps. Teachers have no desire to know that a parent is capable of completing that math worksheet. Open communication with the teacher, parent and child makes homework a much better experience for everyone.
Homework can be a tricky task after a long day. For most kids homework is a reality of school life. Making the best out of it will help both you and your child