‘I Know What It’s Like’: Why One Man Gave Away 8,000+ Free Halloween Costumes
What began in one man's garage has grown into an Austin charity making Halloween magical for all
Key Takeaways
- Driven by childhood memories, an Austin resident created a free costume charity for kids.
- October’s Child has gifted nearly 8,000 Halloween costumes to families facing tight budgets.
- This year’s massive distribution event expects to give away 4,000 costumes completely free.
A decade ago, one Halloween lover started collecting costumes for kids who couldn’t afford them. Now, his Austin charity helps thousands celebrate Halloween with joy and creativity — at no cost.
Finally! I have trick-or-treaters! Christophe Waggoner thought as he saw the kids roaming his new Austin, Texas, neighborhood decked out in colorful costumes. Christophe previously lived in an apartment, where he never got visitors on Halloween. Now, he was excited to participate in the candy-gathering ritual.
As Christophe spent his first Halloween handing out treats, he noticed how some children arriving in simple, homemade costumes — like cut-up ghost sheets — would gaze longingly at other kids’ expensive Star Wars or The Wizard of Oz store-bought costumes. With a heavy heart, Christophe recalled his own childhood, growing up without the funds for fancy costumes. As a kid, he had always wished for something truly special.
That’s when he got an idea: What if all children could celebrate Halloween and wear the costume they really want?
Working as a mystery shopper for resale stores, Christophe realized he was in the perfect position to gather up some costumes to give out the following Halloween.
In 2017, he officially began October’s Child. He gathered costumes year-round and hosted a costume giveaway for his community that October. It was a resounding success.
Inside the magical free costume giveaway
For the first five years, costumes, masks and accessories — purchased mostly at resale stores and Goodwill — packed Christophe’s garage.
But as word spread of his initiative, he soon had to rent a storage unit to accommodate the increasing flow of costumes donated by individuals and business partners. When his storage unit filled up, Christophe rented a second unit, then a third, then a fourth.
At his once-a-year distribution event, he would pick a spot in a church or school parking lot or apartment yard, and set up tents to display the costumes. Community members would line up to check out the Halloween costumes and decorations, and pick out whatever they wanted.
What started as a simple neighborhood project out of Christophe’s garage has blossomed into a lifelong passion—one which has given away close to 8,000 costumes to bring the magic of Halloween to families in need.
This year alone, Christophe expects to give away more than 4,000 costumes to kids, adults, babies and even pets.
The event will be held in a 7,200-square-foot area in a field next to a school, and as always, the costumes remain completely free. Christophe loves that the children, bubbling with excitement, don’t have to ask, “Mommy, can we afford this?”
He remembers seeing a little girl having so much fun as she put on a wig, ran over to her dad and said, “Guess who I am?”
A grateful community on Halloween
Keri Stern, mother of teens Mia, Izzy and Jesse, has been taking her kids to October’s Child events since it started. Her kids have always found pieces they love — from characters like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to cool wigs and princess costumes.
“Nobody leaves with bare bones! If someone wants to be a dragon and Christophe doesn’t have a dragon costume, he will find enough pieces to put together to make a dragon costume,” says Keri. “It’s a lot of work that he puts in. Yet at the end, he downplays how much he’s done. It’s really born out of this love he has to help.”
Christophe also remembers when a grateful father approached him, shook his hand and simply said, “Thank you so much.” The man was relieved that he didn’t have to spend money on costumes when funds were tight.
This deeply touched Christophe, who gets choked up when he talks about what October’s Child means to him.
“Seeing all the laughter, smiles and everybody having a good time makes me emotional,” he says. “I know this is something they probably couldn’t have done otherwise. It makes me feel so good to help!”
A version of this article originally appeared in the November 2, 2026 print issue of Woman’s World.
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