Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

[Oh Kay!]

Has anyone done this? Our 2 DSs(7 and 5) want to do it this year--believe it or not, they saw it on Cartoon Network.

 

[mommytotwo]

Yes, I had done it for several of years when I was in high school.
We had gotten donations from a few cents to $3.00 from each house we had gone to, and sometimes candy for ourselves.
It's a good cause and it teaches kids how to think of others and their needs.

 

[mtblujeans]

We did this back in the 1960's when we were kids in Illinois. We would trick or treat for change with that little box they give you. I have not thought of that for years....we would go out in our costumes during the daylight afternoon for UNICEF. Then go out that evening for our candy!

 

[Melrosgirl]

Actually we are not doing it this year. I think most people aren't aware of the UNICEF program for trick or treating. I don't want my kids to catch people off guard after they knock on their doors Halloween night. Makes for awkward situations perhaps.

 

[Oh Kay!]

I thought I would let them try. Our neighborhood is not really into Halloween. Last year, the candies that the boys got were so pitiful that DH had to take them to the neighboring town. Since the UNICEF is collecting money for Katrina victims this year, I think even the neighbors who don't give out candies might contribute a little.

The boys already did trick-or-treating at MNSSHP so they don't need more candies.

By the way, what do you do with the collection? Do we send cash or should I write out checks?

 

[mtblujeans]

Hmmmm....check at the web site and see if there is an address to mail monies to or if there is a local representative....we should be able to figure something out between a few of us here....

 

[ryan840]

I had to laugh when I read the title of this thread. We bought our son a halloween book a couple months ago called Corduroy's Halloween and were innocently reading it when we get to "Trick or Treat for UNICEF! and a picture (behind a pop up door) of trick or treaters with the little boxes... We had no idea it was coming- the book didn't mention anywhere on the front or back cover that it was a UNICEF book, and that is the only mention of it in the book so the pages we skimmed before buying didn't give it away either. All we could do was laugh at our surprise, especially since we had never even heard of that before! Oh well, it is our sons favorite bedtime story and we just say "Trick or Treat" instead for simplicity since he's so young.

 

[mtblujeans]

Ryan840, that's odd! Perhaps a "joke" by the publisher!?

Oh, Kay! I am looking around the UNICEF web site and having trouble finding info on Trick Or Treating....

Ok, here we go: Trick Or Treat For UNICEF

The site allows you to download a can wrapper, in .pdf format, that you can cover a can to make your collection canister. On the web site and on the wrapper back it says:

"Donate your coins at a Coinstar machine in participating supermarkets. Follow the on screen prompts and quickly donate to UNICEF. To designate UNICEF as the recipient of your change, enter code 5555. The Coinstar machine counts your change and prints a receipt for the full amount of the tax-deductible contribution. Send the receipt along with this gift form (.pdf) to:

U.S. Fund for UNICEF
DEPT. TRDC
P.O. Box 98006
Washington, DC 20090-8006

and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will mail an official acknowledgement of your gift.

There are more than 10,000 Coinstar machines across the U.S. To find the one nearest you, visit Coinstar or call 1.800.928.CASH.

By check: Checks and money orders should be made payable to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Mail all checks and money orders, along with this gift form (.pdf), to:

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
PO Box 3662
New York, NY 10164-2629"

The site also tells you how to donate by credit card.

 

[ReadingBelle]

I trick-or-treated for UNICEF all through high school. It was a fun way for older kids to still go out in costume and do a bit of good. Most people were happy to give us some change, and we usually got candy as well. I would definitely recommend it. Just be sure your kids know that not everyone will give them money, and that's OK.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Just wanted to add that Clay Aiken ( ) is the official ambassador for UNICEF's Trick-of-Treat fundraiser.
I know someone mentioned it already, but the funds are being shared between different victims of disaster, including Katrina and the tsunami, and I think it's a great way to get kids involved. If you're not totally comfortable hitting up ALL the neighbors for cash and coin, maybe you can UNICEF at those homes of people you're particularly friendly with or family. I mean, who can resist a cute kid in a costume??

Good luck!