Erik Yabor/Times-EnterpriseLibrary children's coordinator Patsy Pallone uses her wand to cast a spell on a cauldron filled with candy.

CAIRO — Roddenbery Memorial Library distributed an estimated 750 pieces of candy to hundreds of children last week as part of a special “trunk-or-treat” Halloween celebration.

Goodies were distributed to more than 370 trick-or-treaters seated in their vehicles by mask-wearing library staff and 16 additional vendors. 

“It was just so nice to be able to participate in something again,” said library director Janet Boudet. “With all of this COVID stuff and having to have small groups it just felt really good to be involved in a community activity again and see all of the kids and everybody come together for a good cause.”

The event was supported through candy donations by the Grady County School System, Grady County Farm Bureau, Friends of Roddenberry Memorial Library and library staff and patrons.

The event came to fruition after a sudden lack of downtown trick-or-treat options. With the City of Cairo’s annual Boo on Broad event canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the library stepped into the fray last Thursday with a special drive-through candy giveaway of their own.

Boudet gave special credit to library children’s coordinator Patsy Pallone and Cairo Main Street director Alyssa Blakley for collaborating to turn the concept into a reality.

The Grady County Sheriff’s Office also got in on the Halloween action this year with their own drive-through candy giveaway, with the first “Boo With the Blue” trick-or-treat drive-through taking place the same day. The sheriff’s office wound up distributing candy to more than 200 trick-or-treaters Thursday.

Though last week’s drive-through events were designed with the intention of filling in for the canceled Boo on Broad, Boudet did not rule out the library hosting a similar candy giveaway again.

“This may be something that we will do in the future,” she said.