Dozens of local businesses and schools are banding together to make sure that local children will be able to celebrate Halloween in style. Through The Halloween Helpers, these generous organizations are hosting Halloween costume collection boxes with the hope of amassing hundreds of gently-used costumes.

All Halloween costumes accumulated through the regional drives will be distributed to kids served by the Greater Norristown PAL on Oct. 19 and 20.

The Halloween Helpers was started by 11-year-old Emma Rose Shapiro of Wynnewood and helps those not lucky enough to be able to afford a costume for trick-or-treating or other Halloween events.

"Emma has set an ambitious goal for 2009: to collect 1,000 'previously-enjoyed' costumes. We are asking anyone who has clean and complete costumes that their kids have outgrown or are not interested in wearing again to one of the following regional drop-off points. This effort will not only help Emma reach her goal, but more importantly allow the kids served by the Greater Norristown PAL to celebrate this Halloween properly attired," said Ilyse Shapiro, Emma Rose's mom and coordinator of The Halloween Helpers.

Current costume collection sites are located in Montgomery and Chester counties.

Check TheHalloweenHelpers.com for a complete and up-to-date list.

The closest collection site to the Pottstown-Limerick area is The Montgomery County Continental Bank in King of Prussia. Costumes will be collected at 197 E. DeKalb Pike Sept. 21 to Oct. 3.

Costumes should be gently used and clean and individually bagged. Infant through adult sizes are sought. Costumes should also be labeled with gender, size and type. Complete costumes are prefered. (Don't forget those prop extras!)

The group is also looking for additional collection sites. Sign up on their Web site.