Children can exchange costumes for free skating

When Halloween is over, children put their costumes in storage, throw them away or donate them to various causes.

Randi Jo Taurel, who along with Wendy Rolfe-Cook and Rebecca Tibbits, founded Youth Enrichment Services (YES), would like to see the costumes donated to the Egyptian Theatre's YouTheatre program.

So, YES, a non-profit organization that specializes in local, small business, enrichment programs and services for children in the Park City Community, will host a Wear It, Then Share It Halloween costume exchange at the Park City Ice Arena on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Children will be able to donate their used costumes for an afternoon of free ice-skating at the arena.

"Kids can come, donate their costumes and skate and leave anytime between 12:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.," Taurel said. "The ice skating rentals are not included in the costume exchange, but the skating is free."

Youth Enrichment Services, which also provide parents with free information and resources while supporting local businesses, tries to come up with different activities for their business partners and local children during the holiday season, Taurel said.

"This particular idea came up while we were thinking of something we could do between Halloween and Thanksgiving," she explained. "We would like kids to bring in their gently-used costumes from this year, the year before or the year before that to the event, and we would prefer children's costumes because the YouTheatre program will be using them."

The Figure Skating Club of Park City will be on hand to help and volunteer at the event.

"I know there will be younger volunteers from the Figure Skating Club helping at the event, but when we do other activities in the future, we would love middle-school-aged students to help us out," Taurel Said. "We're always looking for new local businesses to partner with, and we constantly need volunteers."

They said excitement was high among the residents as aides got them gussied up for the costume judging.

Winning first place was Pearl Karpus, who, complete with different colored socks and cowlick, came dressed as a nerd.

Second place went to Junior Butler, a cowboy.

In the staff costume contest, physical therapist Kyle Cochrane won as a personal trainer who looked more like a sumo wrestler.

Residents had a pumpkin decorating contest as well. Essie Settle took first place and Kenneth Keatts took second.

The party concluded with Halloween cake and ice cream for everyone.

Carinda said that Beth had the idea originally, and she thought it was a great way to “pay it forward.”

“My dad has been here since 2007,” she said, adding that it is important to find ways to bring some fun into the lives of nursing home residents.

“I hope that we inspire the community to get involved,” Carinda said. “It only took a half an afternoon and very little money to do this, and yet it worked so well.”