After a year of planning and over 500 new or gently used Halloween costume donations, Ella-Ween is being held Saturday. (October 21)
Ella Crossett died suddenly in the summer of 2022 and her organs were donated to two little boys.
"We have made it free admission," said Luckins. "All of the costumes will be about $10 and then everything else will be priced accordingly. It's going to be affordable for families."
She hopes there's a costume for everyone looking.
"Infants, toddlers, kids, teens, adults... I've got everything divided in categories. I'm hoping there will be a nice variation," Luckins said.
Halloween was Ella's favourite celebration and since October 21 would have marked her fourth birthday the event includes much more than the sale of costumes, unused make-up, and décor.
"The Painted Cat is going to be there, Twisted Chris, Snapshots Foto Booths, Plympton-Wyoming Rentals is going to be there with their cotton candy machine," Luckins said. "So, there's going to be some fun things people can enjoy in case they don't find a costume. It will still be a great event."
Ella-Ween will be held in the gym at Rosedale Public School, at the corner of Rosedale Avenue and Indian Road.
Families with special needs are invited to come from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the rest of the public can come from noon to 5 p.m.
Money raised will be given to SODA and used to create grief packages for donor families.
"With the [donor] recipients, they get a brand new start. With donor families... you're just left empty and you don't know what to do. You know that they did a good thing, but you're lost... you're so lost," Luckins said. "So, these grief packages are just a way of us acknowledging what they did and the decision that they made and how grateful we are for that decision as hard as it is."
Luckins hopes it becomes an annual event to remember her little girl.
She said representatives from SODA will be there to answer questions and provide information on organ donation.