How Trick-or-Treat Fundraising Adds Up to Big Impact for Children

More than 75 years of kids helping kids

With Halloween just days away, many families across the country are putting the finishing touches on their costumes, preparing their candy bowls and getting ready to go door-to-door with their Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes, collecting coins to fund lifesaving programs for children around the world. Every nickel, every dime, every quarter — all of it adds up to make a real difference.

Since 1950, the little orange box has been synonymous with kids helping kids. Trick-or-treaters have raised close to $200 million in funds, directly supporting UNICEF's humanitarian programs for children in need around the world. From nutrition to winter clothes to medical supplies, below is a brief look at some of the tangible, life-changing impact your support helps make possible every October.

Soccer balls: $10

A boy shows off his soccer skills in the courtyard of the Kasenyi Primary School in Irumu Territory, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNICEF is supporting the implementation of catch-up classes for children whose schooling has been disrupted by ongoing conflict in the DRC. Alongside academic instruction, recreational activities provide opportunities for social interaction, teamwork and a much-needed sense of normalcy. For children facing ongoing violence and insecurity, even a simple soccer ball can have a transformative impact.

First aid kit: $30

Nurse Svitlana Kuts conducts a health check-up for 10-month-old Daniil during a home visit in Vyrishalne, Poltava region, Ukraine, measuring his development and providing support to his mother, Tetiana. Svitlana's UNICEF first aid kit contains the tools she needs to deliver essential health care to families in remote areas. Through the Home Visiting program, implemented by Ukraine's Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF, health workers like Svitlana have reached children and caregivers across 15 regions, including Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkiv.

High-energy biscuits: $51

In the Gaza Strip, UNICEF is supporting the distribution of essential nutrition supplies, including high-energy biscuits for pregnant women and lipid-based nutrient supplements for children. At a time when access to nutritious food remains extremely limited and prices are rising, these ready-to-eat lifesavers are an important tool in preventing and treating malnutrition in Gaza.

Winter clothing kits for three children: $110

Eight-year-old Rahim stands with Shafiq and Noor Gul in front of their home in Parun, Nuristan, in eastern Afghanistan. In February 2026, UNICEF distributed more than 5,000 winter clothing kits across the region. Each one includes a warm jacket, socks, boots, a sweater, a hat and gloves. As another winter approaches, more clothing kits are being sent from UNICEF Supply Division to help children around the world survive the bitter cold months ahead.

Two vaccine carriers: $121

A community health worker marks the finger of a young infant on his mother's lap at an outdoor vaccination point in the Far North Region of Cameroon, confirming the child has received the oral polio vaccine. During an April 2026 campaign reaching more than 6 million children across the country, the UNICEF vaccine carrier was a common sight. Depending on the type of vaccine and the size of the carrier, these lightweight, thermally insulated containers can keep vaccines cool for as long as two days — critical to ensuring that no child is too far away to receive the protection they need.

There’s still time to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

You can join the millions of U.S. trick-or-treaters who have helped fuel UNICEF’s mission to deliver for every child. Visit Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF to find all the resources you’ll need to get started.