Skip the candy altogether! Trick-or-treat for UNICEF

We've published this hack in past years, but it's such a wonderful program that I'm happy to remind everyone about it again. From Jessica:

We have an 18 mo. old who we debated about taking trick-or-treating. She can't eat the candy and doesn't quite understand what's going on yet. But then we remembered Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF we decided we would. UNICEF helps children throughout the world. They work in 190 countries through country programs and national committees. UNICEF, and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

I have fond memories as a child of collecting change for UNICEF as I went trick-or-treating. For families that are interested in making Halloween more meaningful for their kids this would be a great way to do that. You can request donation boxes via their website, or print your own canister cover right from home.

I checked out the website, and you can even collect donations online yourself or as part of a team. This would be a great activity for a classroom or a Scout troop, or any group of kids who want to make a difference in the world.

I also found links to UNICEF-created games, including "Ayiti: the Cost of Life." This game explores what it's like to live in poverty, keep out of debt, and get educated for a family of five in rural Haiti. Fascinating.

More: Easy Halloween tips

Comments

[Erv]

Don't trick or treat for UNICEF.

At least that's my opinion. While I do believe that UNICEF does some good in some places, I also know that they are causing as many problems as they are fixing in other areas. They have a number of misguided ideas about international adoption, for example.

As the the parent of an adopted child, I can not support UNICEF.

For more details, see this blog post: http://ouradopt.com/adoption-blog/feb-2008/lisas/unicef-continues-its-anti-adoption-crusade

[kidletnation.blogspot.com]

I didn't realize they still did Unicef on Halloween. I remember those boxes as a kid, and how focused we became on filling the box to the rim. The day after Halloween was as much about having the heaviest Unicef box as it was about having the most candy.

[Monica]

I second what Erv said. UNICEF has been responsible for stopping adoptions in several countries while providing NO alternatives for caring for the homeless children now left in those countries. Rather than trick-or-treating for UNICEF, we donate the money to reliable charities working to help the children in the countries themselves.

[Judie]

I agree with Erv and Monica. UNICEF has been a hinderance with our international adoption in Haiti. They want to try to keep the children in their own country to preserve their culture, which is completely understandable. However, they need to look at the bigger picture. The country cannot even support themselves. Their children are starving and left orphans in the streets to die. Who is going to help them? Their own people can't afford to feed themselves much less adopt! I choose to donate to the orphanage, www.FoyerdeSion.org

[Parent Hacks Editor]

WOW. Thank you for giving us a different view on UNICEF. Eye-opening.