we always have a handful that are not costumed and/or have the backpacks. I don't pass judgment and give candy to all. None of us know their story.
This topic actually gives me a chance to share a story that happened to me on the 30th. The day of our TOT. I had to run into Dollar Tree for last minute body parts. As I was grabbing a couple hands I saw a boy looking at those cheap masks with the elastic bands. They also had some of the plastic cleavers and swords, knives, etc. and hanging beside them were a few of those knit gloves that had the monster and skeleton designs screened on them. This kid, he had one of the masks in his hand and was searching through the gloves and was trying to hold on to one of the knives. I went about my way of grabbing my last minute supplies and headed up to the register. The little boy was ahead of me and had all 3 items. When he went to pay, can you guess where this is going?, he didn't have enough money. He told the cashier his Mom only gave him "this much", which was a dollar bill and some change. Basically it was enough to cover one item. I told the cashier to just ring it with my stuff. Told the kid to keep his money and the cashier put it all in a bag for him. The boy couldn't have been more than 10 if that. This kid was estatic that he got his full "costume". It wasn't much, but to him I'm sure he was going to be the scariest monster on his block. I told the cashier, who thought what I did was just the greatest thing, that I can't believe this kid couldn't be given more than a buck and some change. Especially when I walked out and saw that the Mom was parked beside me talking on her phone and smoking a cigarette. The kid was sitting in the front seat tearing his stuff out of the bag with the biggest smile. Mom wasn't even paying attention.
What I did was no big deal. But what it made me realize is that it may not be the kids not wanting to put forth effort, but the parents who just don't care if their kids have a costume or not or just may not have the money to buy one or the creativity to make something. Just something to always remember.