GARYVILLE – Marathon Petroleum Company LP and the St John the Baptist Parish held their annual event Oct. 29 in Ezekiel Jackson Park in Garyville. Seventy MPC employees volunteered their time to serve over 1,000 community residents.

Marathon employees served free jambalaya, popcorn, cotton candy and soft drinks. Children were given Halloween gift bags stuffed with candy, coloring books, frisbees, cups and Halloween trick or treat safety tips. Activities included pumpkin decorating station, clown, four spacewalks, face painting, 100-yard dash contest, 50-yard dash contest, a punt, pass, kick contest and the Wetland Wildlife Express from the Audubon Zoo. Animals present were a possum, armadillo, owl, snake, alligator and rabbit.

This event has been held since 2001, and MPC along with the St. John Parish the government has made improvements like fencing of additional property purchased by the parish adjacent to park, fence repair, painting and repair of the park concession stand, new playground equipment, a lighted walking/jogging track and a pavilion.

“Marathon Petroleum is invested in making a positive impact in the community on a daily basis. We love to see the children have fun, but we always make sure there is an educational element involved,” said Aspen Steib, community relations representative for MPC’s Louisiana Refining Division.