Trick or Treat for UNICEF

Do you remember the joy of taking your orange box door-to-door as you collected pennies for children in need around the world?

Well the boxes are jazzed up this year, but the tradition of penny-by-penny philanthropy remains strong in our community. This year, once again, we hope you will share that joy with Richmond’s children and make “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” a tradition in your family.

UNICEF boxes will be sent home with Richmond Elementary School children during the week before Halloween. Your child can return them to school where the change will be counted and sent on to UNICEF, the United Nation Children’s Fund.

In 2011, RES students collected over $700 for UNICEF. Penny by penny, that money so joyfully collected was enough to vaccinate hundreds of children against polio or buy warm blankets to give to children in emergencies.

As a community member and a parent, you can help by stocking up with coins along with your candy and welcoming our young fundraisers with an encouraging contribution. Many thanks to Richmond community members who dug deep into their coin jars to contribute in the past few years.

Many local businesses have also hosted collection boxes in past years, so look for the boxes near the cash registers at area businesses. In past years, participating local businesses included the Richmond Corner Market, John’s Shoe Shop, The Bridge Street Café and Grill, Stargazer Gifts, the Richmond Free Library, Richmond Beverage, Bridge Street Hair, Village Bicycles, Ski and Snowboard Express, and more. TD Bank North has been an extremely helpful partner in processing the coin rolls.

By Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF, kids learn the importance of helping others in need and are empowered to make a real difference. 

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to gather up spare change and be prepared to welcome our young trick-or-treaters with donations to UNICEF as well as candy treats. Many people aren’t aware that this campaign still exists.

What difference can a few pennies make?

• 5 cents can provide iodized salt for one child for a year to prevent mental and developmental disabilities.
• 6 cents can provide a packet of Oral Rehydration Salts to help save the life of a child suffering from dehydration due to drinking contaminated water
• 7cents can provide a box of crayons for children to use in the classroom
• $1 can immunize a child against polio or measles for life
• $3 can provide a child with a pencil, paper pad and a pen to use in the classroom
• $4 can provide a large wool blanket to protect a child from the cold during an emergency in the winter
• $11 can provide 100 colorful wooden figurines for children to play with
• $12 can buy one packet of 20 high-protein biscuits for malnourished children.
• $15 can buy a double-sided chalkboard for classroom or outdoor use
• $17 can immunize one child for life against the six leading child-killing diseases: measles, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and tuberculosis
• $35 can provide pencils and books for 50 children so they can participate in school
  
  
  For more information or to help, visit www.unicefusa.org or contact Katherine Long, 434-7030, klong@gmavt.net.
  
  
  Please note, after 6 years of organizing this effort for RES, I am hoping to pass the baton for next year. This is any easy and meaningful volunteer activity that works great even for parents working outside the home. Please let me know if you’d like more information.