AIKEN, S.C. () – Halloween is around the corner, and that means the annual hunt for the perfect costume is underway.

The Aiken County Family YMCA held a free Halloween costume giveaway Sunday. 

The community helped families mask the cost of Halloween—one free costume at a time.

It’s simple gestures like these that can make a big difference for children. The Aiken County Family YMCA partnered with Fearless to put on the event, and a husband and wife from the church want to make sure children are not left out of Halloween festivities because of cost.

“We really just wanted to help the kids no matter what stage of life their parents are in, as they grow to be able to have a really good memory-making experience with their friends and not feel like they have to be left out of anything so they can have the most fun possible,” Amy Adams, a member of Fearless Church said. 

She said that people from all over the country donated costumes for the giveaway. A recent poll by CouponFollow also found that nearly 1 in 5 Americans will not be participating in Halloween this year because it’s expensive. Of those polled, 72% are cutting because of inflation, and 46% say they cannot afford it. 

“The idea stemmed out of the fact that their parents couldn’t purchase them Halloween costumes when they were younger. They wanted to do something so that other children in the community didn’t have to face that,” Samantha Whittaker, the Aiken County Family YMCA Executive Director said. 

“The way that the country is nowadays, we just want to help our community as much as we can.”

There were more costumes than expected, and the Aiken County Family YMCA Executive Director hopes to host this Halloween costume giveaway again next year.

They will also host a trick-or-treat event next Saturday, October 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.