Celebrating Community Spirit: Thank You, East Otago!

Expressing our gratitude for an Unforgettable Big Steps Educare Halloween Party

What an incredible night! The 2025 Big Steps Educare Halloween Party was a roaring success, and it’s all thanks to the wonderful East Otago community. From the youngest trick-or-treaters to the dedicated volunteers behind the scenes, everyone played a part in making this event truly special.

Our Halloween Party brought together families, friends, and neighbours for an evening of laughter, delicious food, and spooky fun. The bouncy castles, as always, were a hit with the tamariki, the food stalls kept everyone satisfied, and the festive decorations transformed our venue into a Halloween wonderland. The joy and excitement in the air were a testament to the power of community coming together.

Special Thanks – A massive shout-out goes to Jamie, Cam, and Beanos Bakery. Their donations, hard work, and bouncy castle transport brought the party to life. Your continued support means the world to us, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Also, to Jess, your help for Jamie and Annabel in the food tent was simply amazing.

We’re grateful to Nakita, Chris, and Axel for their generous donations and for providing the crowd favourites: candyfloss, coffee, and ice cream. You kept the treats coming and the smiles wide.

We’re also incredibly grateful to Emily, who did a fantastic job of organising our raffles and securing generous prize donations. Your enthusiasm and effort brought an extra buzz to the evening and helped make the event even more memorable for everyone.

We want to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Waikouaiti Volunteer Fire Brigade for keeping the barbeque sizzling and lending a helping hand with electrical support. Your energy and expertise made sure everything ran smoothly.

Special thanks to Ngahuia, Alisya, Jamie, Emily, Matua, George, Kaea, Denver, Sheryl, and Courtney for setting up the venue, Daisy for helping during the evening and to Jamie and Brett for helping us with the big job of cleanup. Your teamwork and dedication made the party possible.

A huge thank you to the whole Big Steps Educare team for your tireless fundraising efforts and commitment to making this event a success.

We would like to express our gratitude to Annabel Kuzma for providing access to the Plunket Rooms, offering a quiet space for parents and infants during the evening. This opportunity was highly appreciated by all who utilized it.

Additional Mentions - We’re lucky to have so many local organisations and individuals supporting us. Thank you to Leanne Black and Tall Poppy Real Estate for lending us their gazebo, and to the Eastern Rugby Club for the barbeque and kitchen equipment.

Extra appreciation goes to East Otago Events Centre, Gardens New World, Continental Event Hire, Makikihi Fries, Moeraki Tavern, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Wright Family, Firewood King Ltd, The Outpost Café, Geoff Markby, Waikouaiti Food Centre, and Inspiring Design for your generosity and community spirit.

Thank you once again to everyone who contributed, attended, and supported our Halloween Party. Your generosity and community spirit truly make a difference. The tamariki at Big Steps Educare are especially excited, as they look forward to enjoying their new shade sail, which will help keep them sun safe while they play and learn outdoors. We can’t wait to see you all again at our next event!