Students in two GW residence halls opened their doors this weekend to kids from the District, providing a safe environment for young trick-or-treaters.

A Crawford Hall event Friday brought together 30 kids from the Northwest Settlement House, a local day-care center. More than 30 GW students got the chance to pass out candy and bond with the babies and pre-schoolers.

This event, and others in residence halls, is the kind of community service in which GW students should participate more often. It is commendable to see University students taking the initiative to provide a secure place where kids can have fun. In an urban setting, there may not be places where parents can feel comfortable taking their kids around. And GW students may miss the interaction with youngsters that is a hallmark of the season. This event brought them together.

Programs like this one, Foggy Bottom Cleanup and other community service events foster a bond between the University and its community. As the second biggest landowner in the city, GW has a responsibility to do its share – which means more than just spending money. This is a great way to get GW students to give something back while having fun. These students are presenting a positive message that is so often missing from the lives of urban youth. The more GW students who open their doors and take the time to help our community, the more the community will grow together.