Having fun and helping others:
It’s as easy as trick-or-treating
Everyone knows that October 31st means Halloween has arrived, however very few people also know that in 1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson declared October 31st National UNICEF Day in America.
National UNICEF Day does not fall on October 31 by coincidence, in fact October 31st was chosen as the day to celebrate UNICEF’s work as the result of one of its most successful projects Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF was set up in 1950 by Clyde and Mary Emma Alison as a part of UNICEF’s “Kids Helping Kids” programme. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is an adult-run project which encourages young trick-or-treaters to collect funds for UNICEF programmes while they collect their Halloween candy. From its inception up until now Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has raised more than $167 million for UNICEF’s programmes across the world. The programme’s most successful year was in 2005 when hundreds of trick-or-treaters went out on Halloween and raised $18.25 million for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean tsunami.
However, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is not only a fund-based programme. In 2001 the organizers of the programme encouraged children to send mail, drawings and messages to those kids who had been affected by 9/11. That year all of the funds raised were used to help children suffering in Afghanistan. Ultimately, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF fosters a relationship of solidarity among all the children of the world and teaches them the importance of helping others from a young age.
Here’s one example of how the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF programme has made a difference in the world:
How can my children and I participate in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF?
This year there are an array of activities you can participate in including:
- Trick-or-Treating for funds
- Setting up online fundraising pages
- Participating in the Create a Character Contest
- Donating directly to UNICEF via your mobile
You can find more information about the programme and how you can help on UNICEF’s official Trick-or-Treat page: https://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/