It’s amazing what a little pocket change can do.

According to the Davis chapter of the United Nations Association, 8 cents will purchase a packet of oral rehydration salts that can save the life of a child sickened by drinking contaminated water. A quarter can provide clean water to 10 children. And just 28 cents can immunize a child against measles.

That’s why on Halloween night, children throughout Davis will once again be trick-or-treating not just for candy, but also for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, which since 1946 has provided everything from food and clothing to health care and education to children around the world.

“When our kids trick-or-treat for UNICEF,” said Davis co-coordinator Jennifer Holman, “they are raising money for simple gifts to their less fortunate peers, like clean water, food and medicine.”

It’s a tradition that was started in Philadelphia in 1947, when trick-or-treaters first carried decorated milk cartons to collect money for children in war-torn Europe. Since 1998, children in Davis have raised a total of $237,805 for UNICEF through trick-or-treating and matching grants.

Last year alone, Davis trick-or-treaters collected $12,120 for UNICEF.

The Davis City Council recognized those efforts at its meeting Tuesday, acknowledging the outstanding contributions of Davis children and proclaiming the week of Oct. 24-31 “Support UNICEF Week.”

Davis schoolchildren already have been recognized repeatedly by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, being proclaimed both UNICEF emissaries and heroes for their contributions to the cause.

In recent weeks, schoolchildren throughout Davis have received announcements and permission slips to participate in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. The little orange collection boxes will be distributed to children at school by Oct. 31.

For more information about Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, to volunteer or to obtain a UNICEF collection box, contact one of the program co-coordinators: Sandra Schickele at [email protected] or (530) 753-1601; or Jennifer Holman at [email protected] or (530) 758-3977. Or visit http://groups.dcn.org/davisuna.

— Reach Anne Ternus-Bellamy at [email protected] or (530) 747-8051.

TrickOrTreatW

Davis Mayor Pro Tem Rochelle Swanson donates to Brook Valenzuela, a witch who came to trick-or-treat for UNICEF at Tuesday’s Davis City Council meeting. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

Comments

comments