By Susan Tallant/editor-in-chief
Next week, while going door to door with your little ghosts and goblins collecting candy, why not collect a little dough?
No, not for yourself.
Collect it to help save, protect and improve the lives of children around the world who desperately need our help.
Every year, more than 10 million children under the age of 5 die totally preventable deaths, according to UNICEF, a group that provides humanitarian assistance to children.
Some deaths are caused by illness such as pneumonia and malaria. Others are from HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation and lack of safe water.
Pretty spooky, huh?
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF provides an opportunity for children to collect money to help other children around the world. The experience also gives kids a chance to learn about the challenges others face, and for many, it is their first volunteer experience.
Vaccination by vaccination, blanket by blanket, biscuit by biscuit and book by book, UNICEF is out to change the world, and we can help. Just pick up an orange box at a local Hallmark store or download a canister wrapper from the UNICEF Web site.
Even a small amount will help. Six cents provides water for a thirsty child. One dollar immunizes a child against measles for life; $2 provides nutrition to three hungry kids, and $3 can provide a child with school supplies.
Twenty malnourished children can be fed high-protein biscuits for $12.
More than 200 sachets of PlumpyNut, a ready-to-eat therapeutic spread to nourish children with acute malnutrition, can be purchased with a $75 donation.
From tents, blankets and water filters to mosquito nets and medical instrument sterilizers, donations help UNICEF ensure every child possible has a chance at survival and receives basic essentials we so often take for granted.
There are four ways to send in the funds: online at www.unicefusa.org; by phone at 1-800-4UNICEF; by snail mail at Trick or Treat for UNICEF, 29 W. 38th St., New York, N.Y. 10018-2050; or at any Coinstar® Center.
So have fun while collecting gummy brains and oozing eyeball candy; just don’t forget about your other mission—helping kids help kids.
