While enjoying all the festivities of Halloween, Middle School students sponsored a school wide fundraising event to support Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, adding some deeper meaning to their Halloweening. UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, initiated its first Trick-or-Treat event in 1950 to help children left vulnerable after World War II. Popularity of the program continued to grow, and was fueled by TV appearances in 1959 on Lassie, when the beloved collie carried an orange collection box, and in 1969 when an entire episode of Bewtiched highlighted the cause. In the 1990’s, famous poet and writer, Maya Angelou, served as the organization‘s Ambassador. Funds collected in 2002 were dedicated to the eradication of polio. More recently, in 2015, the 65th anniversary of Trick-or Treat for UNICEF was celebrated by teaming up with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of The Peanuts Movie Gang to encourage children to raise funds for UNICEF’s lifesaving programs.
Over these many years, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has been instrumental in helping to deliver health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education and emergency relief to children where and when they need it most.
This year support is destined for children endangered by climate-induced drought in Somalia, water borne diseases in flood-stricken Pakistan, the refugee crisis in Ukraine, acute malnutrition in Ethiopia, and mental health challenges among teens world-wide.
The Stone Ridge community should be proud that they raised over $1,000. This support will allow UNICEF, on the ground in 190 countries, relentlessly work to ensure every child is healthy, educated, protected and respected. Congratulations!
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