Needham families have a new tool to make Halloween night safer and more fun. Father‑daughter team Dave and Brynn Berkowitz released Haullo, a free mobile app that lets users tag homes offering generous candy, allergy‑friendly treats, and impressive decorations.
From a school project to a community resource
The idea began as a math homework assignment. Last fall, Needham tween Brynn Berkowitz was asked to graph her Halloween candy collection. She told her dad, “Dad, I have to graph out my candy,” and he replied, “Well, do you want to make an app about it?” The pair sat together, and the concept took shape.
Dave Berkowitz, who works in health‑care technology, used AI‑assisted coding tools to build the prototype. Brynn contributed prompts that generated the app’s visual style, describing it with four words: “preppy, slay, boujee and trendy.” The name Haullo reflects the “haul” of sugary goodies kids collect each year.
How Haullo works
Initially, the app let users snap a photo of their candy haul; the AI would count and sort the items. Community feedback quickly expanded its features. Users can now add locations to a map, marking houses that hand out full‑size bars, king‑size pieces, or allergy‑safe options. A “candy bandit detector” alerts parents if a child’s stash appears to be missing, a playful nod to Brynn’s brother who often pilfers her treats.
Beyond candy, Haullo includes a guide to the best Halloween decorations in the town, helping families plan routes that showcase the most festive homes. The app also highlights venues offering adult beverages for parents who wish to enjoy a glass of wine while supervising their children.
Community involvement is key
Dave emphasizes that Haullo thrives on local participation. “Everyone wants the king‑size, everyone wants the full‑size, so we thought, ‘What if we had a map and people could tag on their houses, or trick‑or‑treaters could tag where the good candy is?’” he said. The Berkowitzes hope the app will encourage neighbors to share their Halloween spirit and keep the night safe for all ages.
The app launched in September and is available for free in major app stores. Needham residents are encouraged to download Haullo, contribute their own tags, and enjoy a more organized, enjoyable Halloween experience.
Supporting local innovation
Haullo exemplifies how families can leverage technology to solve everyday community challenges. By turning a simple school assignment into a practical, crowd‑sourced resource, the Berkowitzes demonstrate the power of parental involvement, faith‑based family values, and entrepreneurial spirit in strengthening neighborhood bonds.
Parents interested in trying the app can find it by searching “Haullo” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The developers welcome feedback and plan to add new features for future holidays.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
