Halloween is known for the time honored tradition of dressing up in costume in exchange for candy and Sante Fe College is using trick or treating as a way to help those in need.
For the 16th year, students at the Sante Fe College Teaching Zoo are hosting a family friendly event called "Boo at the Zoo."
Mary Enos said, "I love to go trick or treating because it has lots of candy."
Drew Wisk said, "It's fun watching other people walk by and I get to see other people walk by and get to see how their costume is made up."
For the price of one canned-good per person, you'll get all of this at the Sante Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville.
Zoo Director Jonathan Miot said, "They decorate, they dress in costume, they collect canned goods, they pass out candy to the community...why do we do this? It's for the community."
Zoo Keeping students started this event 16 years ago, and they put in a lot of time and effort into making it a fun filled and creative atmosphere.
Dave Tufts said, "We've been working hard building all the games, doing stuff in the lab...we cut all this stuff together and the seniors built all these things, we have different themes."
Sydney Russell said, "You get to know work with your classmates and just come together as a team, it's just so fun."
The event has games, critter exhibits and plenty of candy, but the best part is that it's all going to benefit community food banks.
Miot said, "When the community shows up, they donate one canned good per person to show up to the event, they actually give back to the community themselves. All the canned goods we collect go to the local food banks."
Last year, Boo at the Zoo had almost 6,000 visitors, so they have a stock pile of goodies ready for visitors this year.
Miot said, "Come out, do some free trick or treating and bring the whole family."
Boo at the Zoo is going on until 7:30 on Halloween night. And don't forget your canned good or your costume.