‘Ton of Fun’ boxes make Halloween special
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POLSON — Shoeboxes stacked like giant Legos lined the wall of Suzi and Rick Hill’s garage leading up to Halloween, when each box was filled with goodies. It was a cooperative effort involving several local businesses, starting with Rick spotting empty shoeboxes at Famous Footwear two months ago. He dreamed up a way to use the boxes to do something different and make Halloween more fun for kids, as well as meet his goal of getting Bibles into little kids’ hands.
Family, friends and the community helped Rick with Bibles, treats and toys for the boxes.
Dr. Eugene Peterson, translator of “The Message,” Pastor David Anson of Polson Presbyterian Church and the New Life Christian Bookstore donated Bibles. Other treasure included stuffed animals from Judy Eslick, a small notebook and carpenter’s pencil from Western Building Center, a coupon from Great Clips, a toothbrush from Dr. Michael Windauer, Tootsie rolls from the Showboat Cinema and ice cream cone coupons from McDonald’s.
Joyce Hill, Rick’s mom, bought Halloween candy to include in the boxes and wrote a note in each Bible, giving a page number for a child to start reading.
Rick stressed there was no pressure was involved, and no specific denomination was promoted.. He kept a funnel on the worktable so he and his crew would remember God pouring something — grace, goodness and his love — into people and people pouring it out to everybody else.
Local students Narya and Nabine Sharma helped Rick fill boxes. Narya, a third-grader, and Nabine, a sixth- grader, also helped with advertising.
Nabine dubbed the boxes “Ton of Fun” boxes, and Narya thought “Treats Down the Street” would be great on the spray-painted signs directing trick-or-treaters to the Hills’ house on Hogan Way.
Rick and Suzi served hot cider on Halloween as well as heating their garage so kids could warm up. Dressed in a Spiderman costume, Rick handed out Ton of Fun boxes.
“We have over 300 kids and handed out all the boxes,” Rick said. “Attendance was way better than I could ever have imagined.”
Adding that Wal-mart representatives came by and agreed to donate all the candy next year, Rick said his goal is at least 1,000 Bibles and boxes next year. Famous Footwear is already saving boxes for him.
“Kids are my motivation,” Rick said, nodding at Narya and Nabine. “They could be the future city council and mayor.”
