For the past 15 years, residents of Swatara Road in Shenandoah Heights have looked forward to more than just candy on Trick-or-Treat night, they came for the hot dogs.
Every Halloween, Christine Bokunewicz could be found behind her grill, serving up free hot dogs, water, and juice boxes to families making their rounds through the neighborhood.
It all started 15 years ago when Christine and her late husband, Ronald Bokunewicz, came up with a simple but thoughtful idea: to feed parents and kids who were rushing out the door for Trick-or-Treat night. “Hotdogs?” their friends and family questioned at first. But the couple knew families often didn’t have time to cook after work, so they decided to make Halloween night just a little easier — and a lot warmer.
What began as a small act of kindness turned into a beloved community tradition. Over the years, Christine and Ronald handed out more than 6,000 hot dogs, 4,500 bottles of water, 3,000 juice boxes, and 15 bags of dog treats — not to mention countless smiles, laughs, and memories that neighbors will never forget.
After Ronald passed away from cancer, Christine kept the tradition alive in his honor. On this year’s Trick-or-Treat night, surrounded by her daughter Holly, her grandchildren Lily, Katy, and Cam, great-grandchildren Leena, Ronnie, Meredith, Edee, Maverick, and Mylah, and many friends and neighbors, Christine served one final round — nearly 400 hot dogs — before packing away her grill for good.
When word spread that this would be her last year, the response was overwhelming. Lines of people formed outside her home — parents, children, and even grown-ups who had stopped by as kids years ago — all wanting to say thank you and share one last meal together.
It all started 15 years ago when Christine and her late husband, Ronald Bokunewicz, came up with a simple but thoughtful idea: to feed parents and kids who were rushing out the door for Trick-or-Treat night. “Hotdogs?” their friends and family questioned at first. But the couple knew families often didn’t have time to cook after work, so they decided to make Halloween night just a little easier — and a lot warmer.
What began as a small act of kindness turned into a beloved community tradition. Over the years, Christine and Ronald handed out more than 6,000 hot dogs, 4,500 bottles of water, 3,000 juice boxes, and 15 bags of dog treats — not to mention countless smiles, laughs, and memories that neighbors will never forget.
After Ronald passed away from cancer, Christine kept the tradition alive in his honor. On this year’s Trick-or-Treat night, surrounded by her daughter Holly, her grandchildren Lily, Katy, and Cam, great-grandchildren Leena, Ronnie, Meredith, Edee, Maverick, and Mylah, and many friends and neighbors, Christine served one final round — nearly 400 hot dogs — before packing away her grill for good.
When word spread that this would be her last year, the response was overwhelming. Lines of people formed outside her home — parents, children, and even grown-ups who had stopped by as kids years ago — all wanting to say thank you and share one last meal together.
Submitted Photos
