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What does Halloween mean in your family?
Obviously, children love the costumes, the parties, and the thrill of coming home with bags of colorful, candy loot. For many, it also means little orange boxes rattling with coins that provide precious help to children all over the world. This Halloween marks the 51st anniversary of "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF," and -- particularly since the tragic events of September 11 -- it's a perfect time to encourage children to remember those in need.
The tradition began in Philadelphia in 1950 when a youth group collected $17 in decorated milk cartons on Halloween to help children overseas. Since then, American trick-or-treaters have collected more than $110 million. Today, UNICEF works in more than 160 countries and territories, providing children with lifesaving medicine, proper nutrition, clean water, education, and emergency relief.
Although children will be hitting the streets in anticipation of what they will get, they are also naturally empathetic and eager to give. When kids have concrete examples of how their donations will be used, they're even more excited to help.
According to the " Trick of Treat for UNICEF" website (http://www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat):
- Seventy cents buys 23 pencils for a classroom.
- Seven cents buys three vitamin A tablets to protect a child against blindness.
- One dollar buys 20 tablets that will purify 4.4 gallons of water.
- Five dollars buys a pack of three hoes for use in a school vegetable garden.
The site also has fun Halloween ideas for parents and children, including downloads, pumpkin-decorating tips, and party planning. Your kids can even download a volunteer badge and their own official UNICEF box to fold and glue!
This year, in support of some of the youngest victimes of September 11, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will also accept mail, drawings, and messages from the public and personally deliver them to American schoolchildren in distress. According to its president, Charles F. Lyons, "The U.S. Fund for UNICEF offers this as a means for children all over America and around the world to express their messages of caring and comfort for the children of New York City, Washington, DC, and other affected regions." Children may send cards, drawings, letters, or messages to:
U.S. Fund for UNICEF "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF -- Kids Helping Kids"
333 East 38th Street
6th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Helping others is an important subject all year, but, when mixed with the fun and camaraderie of Halloween, it can create quite an impact on children. So, while you're sharing ideas for the best costume ever and telling scary tales of ghosts and goblins, use this time to remind kids that, while getting is awesome, giving is even better!
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