Students in the New York Public Interest Research Group from Syracuse University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry put their Halloween costumes to good use on Tuesday.

Members of NYPIRG’s Hunger and Homelessness Outreach project donned Halloween costumes and went door-to-door in their annual ‘Trick or Eat’ project.

‘We go door-to-door in costume, but instead of asking for candy, we ask residents to donate canned goods,’ Project Leader Adam Blechman, a junior psychology and English and textual studies major, said.

About 30 students took part in the evening, Blechman said.

NYPIRG project coordinator Dana Hill said the group would donate the collected food to the Syracuse Rescue Mission, a soup kitchen and homeless shelter.

Participants ‘Trick or Eated’ off campus in the area around Euclid and Meadowbrook Avenues, Blechman said.

The residents in the area knew in advance about the project, Hill said. Participants distributed fliers informing the residents that NYPIRG members would be coming around to collect the canned goods Tuesday night.

‘We are here for the students as well as the community,’ Blechman said. ‘We try to help people in any way we can.’

The Hunger and Homelessness Outreach program is one of many NYPIRG groups on the SU campus aimed at helping people, Blechman said.

‘(The Hunger and Homelessness Outreach) is the most charitable of the groups as far as helping out community members goes,’ Blechman said.

NYPIRG, a civic engagement and social activism group, is the largest student-directed organization in New York, Blechman said.

‘Halloween has a reputation for being a night of mischief and gluttony,’ said Jackie Tillmes, a sophomore psychology major. ‘This proves that college kids have a conscience. It’s a fun way to give back to the community.’

Published on October 30, 2006 at 12:00 pm