(L-R) Margaret Palmer, UCC Chaplaincy Leader; Tara Wilson and Nora Lucier, Grade 10 students and members of the UCC Cares Team; and Brenda LeClair, Executive Director, Chatham Outreach for Hunger

Local high school students will be taking to the streets this Halloween, but it won’t be candy they’re looking for.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ursuline College Chatham is holding its annual Halloween Lancers Scare Hunger food drive.

Students will be wearing ID badges and going door-to-door throughout Chatham on Monday to collect non-perishable food items for Chatham Outreach for Hunger.

“This is one of our most important food drives in the entire year,” said Brenda LeClair, executive director of Chatham Outreach for Hunger, in a news release. “It comes just after Thanksgiving and helps us to replenish our shelves in time for Christmas. We are grateful for the support from the UCC Cares Team.”

Students have set a target of 15,000 non-perishable food items for the one-night campaign, which will take place between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“We’re hoping to hit every street in the city,” said Margaret Palmer, chaplaincy leader at UCC. “Anyone who would like to contribute, but won’t be home, should please turn the porch light on and leave a donation in a bag on the step. We’ll make sure to pick it up.”

UCC’s Halloween food drive began around 15 years ago.