From the fast-approaching Halloween observance to November’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner and the annual Operation Christmas Child, the Escalon area is diving headlong into multiple holiday programs and services.

Coming up this evening, Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Escalon Covenant Church will host its Trunk or Treat celebration, staged in the parking lot at the church, 1155 Escalon Ave.

Children of all ages are invited to attend, in costume, from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. and enjoy free hot dogs, games, a costume contest, a brief dramatic production and plenty of ‘trunk or treating’ – getting candy giveaways from the trunks of cars in the parking lot, often playing games to earn the treats.

The program is open to everyone in the community, offered as a safe and fun alternative to the traditional trick or treating.

Next up, organizers are in the initial planning stages for the annual Thanksgiving Day dinner put on through the Escalon Ministerial Association, and are currently looking for help.

The dinner is traditionally put on at the Escalon Community Center and features dine in, take out and home delivery of a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. No cost to attend; donations are welcome and the meal is open to anyone in the community that wants to attend on Thanksgiving Day.

“I am in the process of looking for a caterer right now,” noted Kim Rigg, working to coordinate the cooking of the meal.

Various church, school and community groups, in addition to families, usually come out to help serve the meal and make the deliveries.

Monetary donations are being accepted and checks can be made payable to the Escalon Ministerial Association, P.O. Box 1, Escalon, CA 95320.

Also coming up quickly, National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child, with shoeboxes of small gifts collected and sent out from the Escalon Covenant Church. Boxes are available for boys or girls, in a variety of ages, with tips on what to pack into the boxes to help make the holidays a little brighter across the country and around the world. Pamela Elsholz is the coordinator this year for the Escalon Relay Center. Kickoff will be Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at the church, with dedication Sunday on Nov. 15. Relay Center Hours during the National Collection Week, Nov. 16 through 23, will be Monday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to noon; Tuesday, Nov. 17, noon to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 18, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to noon; Sunday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 23, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Drop off your Shoe Box gifts at the Relay Center anytime during those hours that week. For more information about how to get involved in this effort, contact Elsholz at 209-743-0739.