Ahhh, UNICEF Sunday. My favorite Sunday of the year.
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| My own giant UNICEF box = ministry highlight |
My passion for UNICEF in
general and Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF in particular began in the 1970s. I grew
up in a household that did not believe children should “go begging for candy,”
so we did not trick or treat on Halloween. I did, however, grow up in a
household that believed it was important to learn about the global community
and that children could make a difference in the world, no matter our age.
So, my brother and I would
go trick or treating for UNICEF. On a sunny afternoon. Several days before
Halloween. In our costumes. I think after a year my brother made the choice to
avoid the humiliation of daylight trick-or-treating on the wrong day in costume
for pocket change, but I persisted, motivated by the illustrations on the back
of my UNICEF box that documented just how far a nickel or a quarter could go in
the world of global public health.
One year, I had a
revelation. What would happen if I took my UNICEF box around on the actual
night of Halloween? Perhaps people would be more ready and willing to donate if
I made my rounds at a time and on a date the neighbors were expecting children
to come by and ask for stuff? I presented my case to my mother, who was wary
until my father spoke up and volunteered to go with me. It would be dark, after
all, and it would be reasonable for me to have an adult nearby.
We set out that night, and I
remember returning from the first house to my father – UNICEF box clinking and
my hands full of candy. “What do I do with the candy?” I asked. I was
unprepared for the sweets, having set off with only my UNICEF box in hands. He
replied, “I happen to be wearing a coat with very large pockets.” And so I
learned about grace, care, and teamwork. We went door to door that night,
bringing home the heaviest UNICEF box of all my years and my first-ever haul of
Halloween candy, which of course was shared with the man who carried it in his
pockets for me.
I remain a huge fan of
trick-or-treat for UNICEF. I’ve convinced the last two churches I’ve served to
join me in an annual tradition, celebrating a day when kids make a difference
by advocating for other kids and raising funds to provide for basic personal
and public health for our youngest global citizens. At South Gate, we hand out
boxes on both of the Sundays before Halloween, and during the Children’s
Message our organist plays “scary” music while they trick-or-treat up and down
the aisles. Our congregation enjoys helping our kids help other kids, and they
come prepared with plenty of change to fill the boxes. I usually tell the story
of trick-or-treating for UNICEF with my father, explain the importance of kids
helping other kids, and on the way out of worship everyone receives a reverse
trick-or-treat fair trade mini chocolate from Equal Exchange.
It’s a great day, both in
terms of generosity and advocacy, and hopefully helps reframe our traditions
around Halloween to include care for our neighbors around the world.
Trick or Treat for UNICEF
information and order forms can be found here: http://www.unicefusa.org/mission/usa/trick-or-treat
Equal Exchange offers
reverse trick-or-treat kits in season: http://equalexchange.coop/
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