By ABIGAIL SNOW
Moapa Valley Progress
Families with kids dressed up in costumes from surrounding communities attended the annual Shreeek-reeka event on Thursday at the Eureka Casino.
Participants were able to walk among more than 20 decorated booths set up by local organizations and even enter a haunted house inside the casino, if they dared. The event was free and sponsored by the Eureka Community Initiative program directed by Gerri Chasko.
“This event keeps growing and growing, and this is the most kids I have ever seen attend it,” said Chasko.
President and Chief Operating Officer of Eureka, Andre Carrier, said this is the 6th year holding the event.
“Shreeek-reeka is part of the Eureka Community Initiative,” explained Carrier. “What we do with the Eureka Community Initiative is support local organizations and charities who are doing good work in the community. This is one of the fun things we all get to do together; where they come here and are just serving the cause of making a fun and safe Halloween for the community.”
Parents can come and bring their children to play the games and collect treats. But while they are here they see the different booths and become more familiarized with organizations and charities in the community. So it is a fun way to get exposed to these incredible organizations that are out there doing important work in our community, said Carrier.
One of the nonprofit organizations present was ‘We Care For Animals.‘ Organized in 1995, one of the group’s main services is taking in animals that people can no longer take care of. They then place the animals in foster homes until they are adopted. ‘We Care For Animals’ has been involved in Shreeek-reeka for four years.
“Here we are giving back to the community and saying thank you for their support,” said ‘We Care For Animals’ president Karen Taylor. “We have things for the kids and community like our face painting, games and candy.”
According to Carrier, the groups at the event are all part of the Eureka family. They all support one another and won’t let each other fail.
“It is in our core values,” said Carrier. “So, we remind ourselves every day that serving the community is actually part of the work that we do.”
More information on the Eureka’s Community Initiative program can be found at www.eurekacommunityinitiative.com.
