Although Halloween is a fun time to dress up in your scariest costumes and get sweet treats, it's also a time to bring out that orange UNICEF box and collect money to help sick and starving kids around the world.
Helping Kids in Need
The United Nations created UNICEF in 1946 to provide food, clothing and health care to European children who were faced with famine and disease after World War II. UNICEF now works in 191 countries around the world to give children the best life possible, particularly when it comes to education, child protection, proper nutrition and immunizations to prevent illnesses.
Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF
So what's the deal with those orange UNICEF boxes? Well, it all started back in 1950 when a group of kids in Philadelphia went trick-or-treating with their church pastor. They opened their bags for candy, but also held out empty milk cartons to collect donations for overseas children in need. They collected $17, sent it to UNICEF and the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program was created! Since then, kids in the US have raised more than $188 million to help needy children around the world! Good job!
Unicef
Did You Know?
- UNICEF used to stand for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, but has now been shortened to the United Nations Children's Fund.
- Donating $1 to UNICEF can protect a child from polio for life. Although it's under control in North America, polio still strikes kids in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- Donating $1 to UNICEF can immunize a child against measles, which claims more children's lives each year than wars, famines and natural disasters combined!
- Check out www.unicef.org to learn more about UNICEF and how it's dedicated to helping kids in need.
