Families gathered at The Purple Cow, 2308 S. Range Avenue, in Denham Springs over the weekend for the ATA Lopez Foundation's second annual inclusive Trunk or Treat. Its founder, Paije Lopez, was nearly at a loss for words.
The gathering was organized by the ATA Lopez Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Lopez, a mother of three children who are on the autism spectrum, according to Yahoo. The foundation's name is built from her children's initials, and it exists to provide support and advocacy for other families raising relatives with disabilities, the outlet reported. As Livingston Parish News reported, the event drew a big crowd.
Lopez said she was overwhelmed by the community support on display, and the same report notes she described herself as still trying to process the event, saying she was rarely left so speechless. She said the gathering helped families of all abilities have fun, feel included, and enjoy the day, according to that reporting.
An Event Built Around Inclusion
The ATA Lopez Foundation offers inclusive community experiences for children and families. That mission was echoed in promotional materials for the gathering, where organizers described their goal as creating a more inclusive community for children and families of all abilities, according to Zeffy.
Ahead of the event, Yahoo reported that families could take part in trunk or treating, games and food from local vendors from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., with the free gathering originally slated for The Purple Cow at 2308 S. Range Avenue in Denham Springs. All of the foundation's programs and events are free, according to the organization's own site, and that free model is sustained through sponsorships, with the foundation stating that sponsorship dollars directly fund free programs and community events for families raising children with disabilities, per The ATA Lopez Foundation.
A Growing Footprint Across the Region
The foundation's work extends well beyond a single Halloween event. Its programs include helping families navigate autism diagnoses, offering IEP preparation, advocacy, guidance toward therapy resources, mom meetups and inclusive playdates, according to Baton Rouge Parents. That outlet reported that a recent foundation playdate hosted nearly 300 children and their families, underscoring the scale the organization has reached in a short time.
The foundation describes itself as serving families across Southeast Louisiana while advocating statewide, according to its about page, and lists its broader offerings as advocacy, caregiver support and education, resource navigation, inclusive community experiences and a Safe Return initiative. Similar inclusive Halloween gatherings have popped up elsewhere, including a Milestones Inclusive Trunk or Treat described by Thrive Magazine as open to the community at no cost, reflecting a wider push to make the holiday accessible for families of all abilities.
