by Michelle Mullen

As Halloween costs hit record highs, a group of volunteers is proving that joy doesn’t have to come with a price tag.

In October, the nonprofit 4Bronx Project collected more than 100 Halloween costumes and distributed them to children living in family shelters across the Bronx. 

“This year we saw more demand than ever,” Laura Levine-Pinedo, founder of 4Bronx, said. “The economy has made it harder for families to afford even small things like this. But it’s about more than costumes. It’s about giving kids a sense of belonging.”

The average Halloween costume cost $37.62 this year — an 11 percent increase from 2024, and roughly 25 percent higher than in 2020, according to consumer spending data from the National Retail Federation.

“Some people think, ‘Oh, it’s just a Halloween costume,’” Levine-Pinedo said. “But how do you tell a child they can’t participate because you can’t afford one? That’s heartbreaking.”

Each fall, shelters send the nonprofit lists of children’s ages, sizes, and costumes of choice. Volunteers then get to work finding the best match, a process that begins in September and continues until every request is filled. 

The 4Bronx Project works year-round to provide essentials to Bronx families. But for Halloween, the focus shifts to ensuring that children who call shelters home can take part in a holiday that, for many, offers a moment of normalcy and imagination.

Among the five shelters participating was Concourse House, a transitional residence for mothers and children under 9 years old.

“With the price of costumes, it’s certainly not a priority for our families, but they do want their kids to have a nice time,” said Concourse House Executive Director Manuela Schaudt. “Everybody’s into Halloween. It doesn’t matter what socioeconomic scale you’re on.” 

Schaudt said the 4Bronx Project team not only supplied costumes but brought decorations, treats, and games —  giving families a safe space to celebrate inside the shelter, where black and orange balloons adorned a spacious common area.

 “Our moms are sometimes fearful of taking their kids out in the neighborhood,” she said. “It’s nice that Laura and her team bring the celebration to us so everyone can enjoy it safely.”

Among the those in attendance was Xiomara and her six-month-old daughter dressed in a plush lamb costume. All mothers The Press spoke to asked to omit their last names for safety.

“It shows there’s still hope in the world,” Xiomara said. “People who don’t even know us just care.”

Zaniah, a Concourse House resident of six months, watched her daughter sparkle, twirling in a donated princess gown. 

“It means everything that strangers do this,” she said. “People forget how important it is to come together when someone needs it.”

For Rudith, who emigrated from Togo through France, the day carried an even deeper meaning. Her 8-year-old son, Mason, beamed in his new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle outfit,  something she said she couldn’t have provided otherwise.

“This helps me give my son a happy childhood,” she said. “Back home, things like this — safety, joy — aren’t guaranteed. But here, we are safe. We can smile again.”

The drive was a true communitywide effort, Levine-Pinedo said, with volunteers coming out of the woodworks to help gather donations. Among them, a newly formed Daisy Girl Scout troop in Riverdale. The group of first graders collected dozens of costumes in just one day.

“It was a perfect opportunity and a good lesson in fairness and helpfulness,” said troop leader Denise Gutierrez. “It really shows how generous the larger Riverdale community is when someone asks for help.”

Much of the behind-the-scenes work fell to Barbara Zentner, a longtime employee at Regal Pharmacy and a devoted 4Bronx Project volunteer, who turned the pharmacy’s basement into a sorting center, labeling costumes by shelter and size.

Levine-Pinedo hopes residents continue to support the 4Bronx Project’s effort beyond the holiday and encourages Riverdalians to donate their Halloween costumes this November.

Keywords

4Bronx Project,

Bronx shelters,

Halloween costumes,

Laura Levine-Pinedo,

community volunteers,

Concourse House,

Bronx nonprofits