EDWARDSBURG — 10 years ago, the Hope United Methodist Church in Edwardsburg discontinued its annual Trunk or Treat event due to poor attendance. Last year, under the direction of a new pastor, the church decided to bring the event back, and did so with a turnout so large that all the food and candy was gone within an hour.

Trunk or Treat at Hope in Edwardsburg at 69941 Elkhart Road will be back again this Sunday, and organizers expect an even larger turnout.

“We will have more than a dozen trunks set up in the parking lot,” said Crystal Miller, the communications coordinator for the church. “The kids just show up at 3 o’clock, and we send them through and they get candy and hot dogs and some hot cider.”

On Sunday, the trunks will be lined up in a circle, and each will be decorated, along with their owners. This year, every character from the Wizard of Oz will be represented in someway.

“With this event being on the 28th, it’s kind of the kickoff for the dressing up for Halloween and getting candy,” Miller said, “and they have a good time looking at all the trunks too because we have some fun characters set up.”

The trunk or treat also gives children and their parents an opportunity to trick or treat in a really safe environment.

“I think that it’s a really popular event for the neighborhood kids because it gives them a space and time to come trick or treating when it’s daylight out,” Miller said. “Their parents know they can trust the candy that they’re given from the church.”

This event is open to everyone in the community — not just those who attend Hope United Methodist Church.

Pastor Scott Otis decided to bring the event back because he thought it would be a good way for him to engage with the entire community.

“He is very passionate about being out in the community and doing things for all of Edwardsburg,” Miller said. “This is a great opportunity to kind of open up our building and our parking lot to everyone in the community and let them know that they are welcome here.”

Miller said that the major reason why this is appealing to parents is because the food and candy children are given is coming from a trusted source.

“I think that doing something during daylight hours where it’s a structured setting and it’s lots of candy for the amount of walking that the kids do — they don’t have to walk very far to get a bag full of candy,” Miller said. “It’s safe candy, so you know when you come to a church that the church has provided a safe candy that has not been tainted in any way. They can trust the people and the food that’s being given to their children.”