How to Trick or Treat for UNICEF this Halloween

Since 1950, children have collected funds for UNICEF during Halloween. UNICEF USA still has the orange boxes you can take door to door, but they've added 21st century friendly options as well. Come on, let's Trick or Treat for UNICEF. It's a great cause.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• UNICEF Trick or Treat Orange Collection Box
• Downloaded materials for your fundraising
• A computer and internet connection for your personal online donation page (optional)
• A cell phone with texting capabilities to donate by text (optional)

1. If you want to make a one-time donation instead of fundraise, I understand.
   
   To make a simple $5 donation, text TOT to UNICEF (864233). $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill through the Mobile Giving Foundation (http://www.hmgf.org/t/).

2. If you prefer to fundraise online, start your personal online donation page.
   
   At http://trickortreat.unicefusa.org/site/TR/Events/TrickorTreat?fr_id=1030&pg=entry&s_scr=DM_TOTKUW08YFTOT , register and personalize your fundraising page. Then invite family and friends to donate.

3. If you'd like to fundraise the old-fashioned way, you're going to need the orange collection boxes.
   
   You can pick up less than 10 boxes as early as Sept. 15th at participating Hallmark Gold Crown stores, or after October 1st at participating Pier 1 and Baskin Robbins' stores. Or download a label to use with a recycled canister.
   
   If a group would like to fundraise door-to-door and you're going to need more than 10 boxes, UNICEF will ship you a fundraising kit for free. Have handy your Group ID and name, and the number of boxes you'd like. http://trickortreat.allpointsatl.com/

4. Send in your collections.
   
   All you need to know can be found at http://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/donate.html , but here's the basics:
   
   You can call in any amounts over $5, if you use your credit card.
   You can donate online.
   You can donate by mailing in a check with the official donation form.
   Or you can donate by taking your coins to a Coinstar near you.
   
   For lots of coins, Coinstar has partnered with UNICEF to count all that change. Go to http://www.coinstar.com/us/html/a-home or call 1-800-928-CASH to find a machine near you. Select the US FUND FOR UNICEF option (#5555) and it will count the change for you and give you a receipt showing your total donation amount. Mail in the receipt with the donation form (http://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/web-mail-in-dtf.pdf) for an official acknowledgement.

5. Pat yourself on the back and do something special. You've helped many children in need. Congratulations, and thanks for helping one of my favorite charities.

Tips & Warnings

• Let your friends and neighbors know in advance that you are collecting for UNICEF. You can use the ecard at http://www.unicefusa.org/totcard. Many people like to donate by check to track their charity donations for tax purposes and many more will donate if they have had a chance to think it over and know that someone trustworthy can be counted on to get their hard-earned cash into the right hands at UNICEF.
• Thank everyone you ask, whether they give or not.
• Do not let young children trick or treat for UNICEF or for candy alone.
• Always make sure your children are visible in the dark by using reflecting tape on costumes, wearing glowsticks and/or carrying flashlights.

Resources

• US Fund for UNICEF
• UNICEF's Trick or Treat Page
• Coinstar
• Baskin Robbins
• Pier 1
• Hallmark Store Locator