2025 Trick or Treat Guide 👻

Fascism is the real monster. But community power beats fear.

SNAP benefits won’t be funded on November 1st, impacting more than 40 million people. ICE and CBP are running rampant in our communities kidnapping our neighbors. But there are practical things you can do this Halloween season to move your fear into action.

What you can do

For trick or Treaters

  • Stock foods that are more filling than candy — think granola or oatmeal cups, mac’n’cheese, cup noodles or ramen**

  • Get Know Your Rights zines and whistles** from your local ICE Watch organizations to hand out to parents accompanying trick-or-treaters

  • Print out and distribute quarter sheets** with resources for people dealing with hunger (like some of the links and hotlines below, or the 211 helpline in all 50 states)

  • Get engaged with school watch groups to help keep our kids and community parents safe from kidnapping

  • Not handing out candy? See if your neighborhood needs ICE watchers for any daytime Halloween activities

** Make sure that EVERYONE who comes to your door gets these and let them know that they can pass them on if they don’t personally need them.

For your community

  • Donate CASH to your local food banks. Also check out local pantries. Cash is better than specific food or canned items unless instructed otherwise

  • Find and stock a free fridge near you (check here and also these mini pantries too). Consider a reverse trick-or-treat with your friends where you go and distribute food at these locations

  • Reach out to your local school(s) to see what their food needs are — can you sponsor some breakfasts or lunches for kids?

  • Find a Food Not Bombs chapter near you and learn how you can help distribute food to people in need even when we aren’t in an acute SNAP crisis

  • Does your workplace partner with any organizations for food drives? Does it do corporate matching? Organize your colleagues to make a bigger impact

  • Find a grocery buddy in your local mutual aid group, buy nothing group, or community chats or subreddits. Sponsor their groceries for a month or 6, offer to go shopping for families that are staying home for fear of kidnapping

  • Stay informed. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and shut off the news, but knowing what’s happening is the key to being able to talk to others, spread awareness, and keep yourself and others safe. Learn how free food markets work. Know that this SNAP crisis was avoidable but is being done deliberately. Find out if your state has any amelioration plans. Keep an eye on WIC benefits, which got some support at the beginning of the month but are also running low on funds, and jeopardizing ~7 million people.