Mendota’s AMOR Wellness Center was alive with Halloween spirit on Thursday as more than 700 residents gathered for its annual Trunk-or-Treat, marking the event’s largest turnout yet.

With spooky costumes, lots of treats, and an array of resources from local organizations, the event provided a safe and fun environment for children and families to celebrate the holiday together.

This year, 19 local organizations participated, each decorating their trunks with unique themes and handing out treats and information on valuable community resources. Event host and local nonprofit AMOR distributed over 200 bags of fresh apples alongside candy, while partners like Fresno County Library gave out books from their mobile library bus.

Other participating organizations included Centro la Familia Advocacy Services, Crescent View West Charter Schools, Cal Fire, Mendota Schools, Fresno EOC, and more.

Families dressed up in all kinds of costumes, turning the AMOR Wellness Center into a lively mix of superheroes, spooky creatures, and fun characters. Kids and adults alike joined in on the costume and dance contests, where they won prizes like board games, toys, cookware, and gift cards, donated by participating organizations.

Community leader Joseph Amador and retired local radio host Arnulfo Lara Jr. kept the energy up as the Trunk-or-Treat MCs, engaging with the crowd and bringing everyone together for a memorable afternoon.

Events like AMOR’s Trunk-or-Treat highlight the importance of providing safe, welcoming spaces for families in rural communities like Mendota. With support from local organizations, the event showed how much can be accomplished when a community comes together.

(Disclosure: GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi is a member of AMOR’s board of directors.)