Halloween Costume Swap strikes environmental note

Blossom Birth Services, a local nonprofit education and resource center, is partnering with the City of Palo Alto this Halloween to give children the opportunity to swap an old costume for a new one.

To make this year’s holiday more environmentally sustainable, costumes in good condition for children ages 0-12 years can be dropped off at various locations in Palo Alto until Friday, Sept. 27.

Then, parents looking for recycled costumes can head to a Pre-Halloween pick-up event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, at the Lucie Stern Community Center. Children must be present to pick up a costume. The event will also include Halloween-themed activities and information tables teaching kids how to make a recycled T-shirt bag for trick-or-treating, showing samples of healthy treats and providing Halloween safety tips.

The Halloween Costume Swap is also supported by Zero Waste Palo Alto and the city’s recreation department and libraries. A tax-deductible donation receipt for the old costumes can be picked up at Blossom Birth Services between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays.

Costumes can be dropped off until Friday at the following locations:

• Blossom, 299 S. California Ave., Suite 120 (9 a.m.-7 p.m. in atrium)

• Palo Alto Community Child Care Administrative Offices, 3990 Ventura Court (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

• Lucie Stern Community Center Front Desk, 1305 Middlefield Road (8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)

• Parents Place, 200 Channing Ave. (Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m.- 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

• Participating public elementary schools (during school hours)