Boy’s Halloween party will help others

• Halloween helper

Connor DeBorde, dressed as “Captain Blade,” sits with his parents Mark and Twanda outside of their Woodbury home, already decorated for the Halloween Party. Staff photo by Louise Ernewein

Talk about it

A nine-year-old-boy with a heart for others hopes to make a difference through his Halloween party this year.

Dressed as Captain Blade, Connor DeBorde will be celebrating his fifth annual party on Saturday, Oct. 25, the same day as the national Make A Difference Day.

When he and his mother, Twanda DeBorde, realized, they decided to add a couple of twists to the regular fun and games of the party.

Every child invited to the costume party has been asked to bring a canned good with them for donation to needy families through Connor’s school, St. Ambrose at Woodbury Catholic School.

And during the festivities on Saturday, the party-goers will also be invited to make fleece scarves to be given out to the homeless.

“I have pretty much everything and some people don’t have anything,” said Connor, explaining why he decided to make a difference with his party.

“We always put cool decorations out and invite all my friends over and it’s just really cool because we have a great time.

“This is our first time doing it on Make A Difference Day.”

Twanda DeBorde said she and her husband Mark had hosted a party for Connor and about 20 of his friends since he was in kindergarten.

“The parents get these great costumes and it’s a good chance for the kids to show each other the costumes because in the school they are spread apart,” she said.

“Maybe they don’t get the chance to see their friends, so the party’s a good time for them to get together, see their friends, show their costumes and do some of the traditional games that we don’t play so much any more.”

Musical chairs, pi?ata, guess the weight of the pumpkin, freeze dance and the skeleton relay will all be featured at the party.

Even the DeBorde family dog, Buddi, will dress for the occasion, having appeared as Yoda and Superdog at previous parties.

“As parents, it’s just fun to get all the kids together in a safe environment and watch them play,” said Twanda DeBorde, explaining many of the other parents stayed on to help throughout the party.

“They just have a good time and after the two hours are up, they are just exhausted!”

Tags: news, deborde, halloween, difference, woodbury, twanda, connor