York's annual Halloween Parade might continue after all -- and the solution is so obvious we wonder why no one thought of it before now.

The York YWCA has been hosting the 63-year-old tradition since 2006, when York City bowed out of the parade business.

Since then, the organization has struggled to find sponsors willing to offset the $30,000 cost.

The YWCA -- which provides domestic- and sexual-violence services, counseling, child care and youth-development programs to the community -- warned last year it couldn't justify cutting back on its core services in order the fund the event.

The Oct. 28 parade was to be the last, since no one stepped forward to take on the responsibility.

Until now, that is.

Ike Heilman, a Manchester man with a fondness for social clubs, has been lining up support from many of the various clubs to donate portions of their small games of chance proceeds to keep the parade marching along.

Heilman, 69, is a member of several social clubs, including the 12th Ward Democratic Club. So far, he said, the interest from club members is overwhelmingly positive.

"Every club that I've talked to, every one of them thinks it's a fantastic idea," Heilman said. "They're all willing to participate in this."

And it is what the clubs are supposed to be doing with the money raised through small games of chance like punchboards and raffles.

Under a revised state law, the clubs are allowed to give away bigger prizes and keep 30 percent of the proceeds for operating costs, whereas before the prizes were smaller and all of the money had to be donated back into the community.

That still leaves 70 percent that has to be given away.

Why not use it to save a much-loved local tradition that typically attracts around 30,000 spectators a year?

The social clubs are certainly in a much better position to pay for the parade than the YWCA, which typically sees a higher demand for services during tough economic times.

Every dime should be going to people in need, but during the past couple of years the organization has absorbed about $30,000 in losses from the parade.

We like Heilman's idea very much, although some details still need to be worked out.

For instance, while the YWCA is said to be "thrilled" by the offer, it needs someone to take on the organization of the parade -- not just the funding.

Heilman is very clear the clubs' support would be financial only -- they don't want to plan and produce the parade.

Still, having the funding in place would be a great start.

And there must be some experienced, eager planners out there willing to help keep this tradition alive.