More than 500 children and their families came to the Faulk Center for Counseling's free Trunk or Treat on Boca Rio Road on Oct. 29, with candy, games and PBSO therapy dogs.
More than 500 children and their families came to the Faulk Center for Counseling’s 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat in Boca Raton on Thursday, Oct. 29, the nonprofit said.
10 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: Faulk Center for Counseling staff
The center’s south parking lot at 22455 Boca Rio Road “came to life with decorated trunks, costumes, candy, balloon twisting, cotton candy, and popcorn,” the Faulk Center said. Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office brought their therapy dogs, “who were a big hit with the children and families.”
The center said the afternoon was meaningful because “so many members of our community” came together, from staff and volunteers to the local businesses and community partners who took part.
“Events like Trunk or Treat allow us to build relationships with our neighbors, introduce more people to the Center, and bring the community together in a positive way,” the Faulk Center said.
The free event ran from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and was open to all ages.
What was on
According to the Faulk Center, the afternoon had:
- decorated trunks handing out candy
- cotton candy and popcorn
- balloon twisting
- games and activities
- the PBSO Therapy Canine Unit, with its dogs and the deputies who work with them
Costumes were encouraged, but the center asked that they be family-friendly. “No scary costumes, please,” the flyer said.
The flyer named SCORE Academy Boca Raton as the event’s partner, with its students decorating trunks and volunteering alongside other community partners.
The therapy dogs
The sheriff’s office set up its Therapy Canine Unit in 2020 under Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, and it has grown from two teams to 14 certified therapy canine teams, the Faulk Center said. Each team is a deputy from Road Patrol or Community Policing partnered with a specially trained therapy dog.
The teams work across Palm Beach County on three things, the center said: “victim support, community engagement, and peer support for first responders.” At the Trunk or Treat, families had “an opportunity to meet the therapy dogs and deputies who work alongside them.”
Why a counseling center gave out candy
The Faulk Center, founded in 1973, provides low- and no-cost mental health services to children, adolescents, adults and families in Palm Beach County through counseling, support groups and community programs. It says it works “to make mental health care accessible regardless of financial circumstances.”
The center said the Halloween event ties into that work. It hoped to introduce more families to the organization “in a welcoming environment outside of a traditional counseling setting.”
“By bringing the community together through events like Trunk or Treat, the Center aims to encourage connection, raise awareness of available mental health resources, and remind families that seeking support is a normal and important part of overall well-being,” the Faulk Center said.
Next year
The Faulk Center said it is already planning its 4th Annual Trunk or Treat for October 2027 and hopes to make it bigger, with more local businesses and community partners.
Businesses and groups that want to take part as a vendor, decorate a trunk or support the event can contact the Faulk Center at (561) 483-5300 to be added to its outreach list for next year. The center said it would especially like to hear from businesses that missed out this time. More about the event is at faulkcenter.org/trunk-or-treat.
For more events, see things to do in Boca Raton this weekend.
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