Associated Pediatricians brews up family fun with annual Trunk-or-Treat event

Scarecrows and superheroes and princesses, oh my! Costumes of all kinds were spotted across the Associated Pediatricians parking lot as hundreds of children and their families gathered for the practice’s annual Trunk-or-Treat event on Sunday, October 19. A beloved fall tradition at its Valparaiso location, the event was an exciting time bringing patients and their families together to celebrate the upcoming holiday in an enjoyable way for trick-or-treaters of all ages.

“It is so fun to see all the kids dressed up in their costumes,” said Dr. Elizabeth Campbell, partner and pediatrician at Associated Pediatricians. “We love getting to interact with our community in a very casual way. Our patients are used to seeing us in the office, where they’re usually not feeling well or they may be experiencing scary things, so it’s great to be out here with them in a fun way.”

The kids were all smiles as they traveled from car to car, packing their goodie bags to the brim with candy and other treats. In between the stops, everyone could also grab a sip from Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck, the newest addition to the Trunk-or-Treat in honor of a special friend of Associated Pediatricians. 

“A portion of the proceeds from the coffee truck are going towards the Spina Bifida Association in honor of our buddy Reed, who has Spina,” Campbell said. “We also thought it was fun to have something a little bit new this year. This time of year can be chilly, so we wanted to warm things up a little with some coffee while giving back to the community.”

A dance was also performed by the Nasty Women of Porter County, a women’s rights activist group who has been proudly partnering with Associated Pediatricians for the last four years.

“We came and danced one time, and as we were getting ready to leave, Associated Pediatricians asked us to stay and dance longer. From that point on, we decided to join in the Trunk-or-Treat,” said Joann Mosby, member of the Nasty Women of Porter County. “We started training and learning this dance four-and-a-half years ago with one of our members who we have since lost to cancer. From that point, we started dancing in memory of her. Her husband actually had us dance at her memorial, so it means something to all of us on a personal level, as well as just entertaining the kids. We always love coming out for the camaraderie. We enjoy getting together with like-minded people and supporting our community.”

The Trunk-or-Treat event provided a wonderful opportunity for children and their families to further connect with the Associated Pediatricians staff. Typically, interactions are limited to office visits, so this relaxed, out-of-office setting allowed for enjoyable conversations and memorable experiences free from the usual concerns of a sick child.

“My wife told me about what was going on at Associated Pediatricians, and we came here, obviously, for my kids. Dr. Pablo Bukata is my kids’ doctor, and we thought it’d be a fun time. We’ve been coming out here for the last three or four years,” said Michael Soviergjski, event attendee. “I enjoy going around and seeing all the different outfits and costumes, and my kids are having fun, so that’s the main thing.”

The Trunk-or-Treat additionally provided a space for families to enjoy a day out before the weather takes a chilly turn. Soviergjski in particular enjoyed that he and his family were able to meet some new friends, and his children couldn’t be more excited about all the candy they would get to snack on once they returned home. 

Soviergjski has also gotten word about future upcoming events. After having such an enjoyable time at Sunday’s Trunk-or-Treat, they’re already eagerly marked on his family’s calendar. He appreciates how hard the team works to foster community outside of office hours, and is just as excited to have others join in on the fun as more events pop up later this year.

“It gives us a fun family event to go to, and we get to meet some new people and see some cool stuff. Then my kids get to go home and eat some cool candy there. We also heard something about a photo with Santa, so we’re going to probably take advantage of that later,” Soviergjski said. “I think it’s great for the community, for all the kids, and especially Associated Pediatricians because it gets their name out there. I think we should come to more events like this.”

To learn more about Associated Pediatricians and what exciting events the practice has in store for the remainder of the year, please visit associatedpediatricians.com.