Hey What Happened to the UNICEF Halloween Donation Boxes?!

This year, don't worry about having a bowl of change next to your trick-or-treats, UNICEF is doing things a little bit differently now.

I have vague (but very fond) memories of stumbling around in my mushroom costume (that's

right, when other girls were dressing up as princesses and figure skater, I was desperate to be a pizza topping) going around collecting yummy chocolate, and adding to my exceedingly weighty UNICEF box. UNICEF boxes were so popular that kids would not only compete for the most chocolate bars, but also the heaviest orange and black box. And what a great idea it was! Even at 7, bundled up in my green stem and giant mushroom-top hat, I knew that I was doing something good for kids who maybe couldn't go out and trick-or-treat - it was a great way to teach kids about those less fortunate, in a fun, engaging way.

Well it seems UNCIEF has really honed on to the educationally part of Halloween donations - while the Halloween box donations were a great way to get kids involved, the donations of pennies and nickels (plus the complexities and organization involved in getting those weighty donations to their head offices) usually didn't amount to that much. But much in the

way sugar highs pass by November 1st, so to do the excitement and interest in international development.

This year, UNICEF has declared October 31st as National UNICEF day! Instead of the donation boxes, UNICEF provides people with Halloween fundraising tool kits - allowing people to fundraise in their own way. UNICEF provides ideas for fundraising events at work, at school, in your community, or at a party! You can even create a personalized online fundraising page - so instead of your party goers handing over cash, they can go online and donate directly to UNICEF with debit, VISA or Amex.

But don't worry, UNICEF hasn't lost their fun kids' stuff either. There are tons of online tools and helpful ideas to get kids engaged. Teachers can download teaching plans to organize parties, games and lectures all focused around learning about third world countries and how to give back. And kids can learn on their own too - UNICEF provides them with online games about accessing clean water, helping disaster zones and a quiz show on UNCIEF itself.

A great place to stop for last minute party ideas for Saturday and Sunday, or sit down and play a game with your kid while learning about those in need. And for those of you who LOVE Halloween (like myself), start planning your massive fundraising BASH for next year!!