By Key Club International Trustee Art
This year Key Club is again participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF — in support of Start Strong: Zambia, a project that helps provide early childhood developmental services for a good start in life.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF runs all month, from October 1-31. And we want you to trick-or-treat with us! Every coin and dollar we raise goes toward Start Strong: Zambia, which is a UNICEF initiative.
That is our “why.” Below is the “how.”
Ways to fundraise
Here are a few ideas for you and your friends to get started this October:
- Trunk-or-Treat: Invite business representatives, families, community members or other volunteers to meet in a common area — with their cars decorated with a fun Halloween theme. Kids can go safely to each car and receive candy. You can provide candy for your volunteers or ask them to bring their own. Charge a donation fee to participate, with the proceeds going to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.
- Pumpkin decorating: Show off your artistic skills! Gather some pumpkins (either locally donated or purchased) and art supplies to decorate them. To paint and/or carve a pumpkin, participants donate either a set or chosen amount to your fundraiser. People can join individually, with friends and family, or even as a school club! Want some extra fun? Make it a contest and have a panel choose the best one!
- Coin wars: Host a contest in which teams go head-to-head to accumulate the most points. Each donated coin adds one point to a team’s score, and each bill deducts 10. Teams (whether made of classes, grades or clubs) try to donate the most coins to grow their score while sabotaging the others. All proceeds go to your fundraiser.
- Boo-suckers: Send some scary spirit. Purchase lollipops and cover them with white tissue paper. Tie the tissue paper to the lollipop with white ribbon and draw two eyes — now you have a “ghost.” Sell them around the community or at school. Quick tip: If you sell them in school, let students write a message for you to deliver with the lollipop.
- Use the classic Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF boxes: Go door-to-door with the iconic orange boxes and collect donations. Since Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF extends back to 1950, community members are always excited to get involved. Your club might already have some boxes from last year; if not, visit the Kiwanis Family Store to get them for free. (Clubs only pay for shipping.)
Before you start:
A few quick steps will set up your club for a scary-successful month:
- Learn about the project. Spend a little time learning more about Start Strong: Zambia so you can explain what you’re raising money for; it makes every ask more genuine.
- Set a goal. A specific number gives people something to rally around.
- Check your school’s rules. Some have their own guidelines for fundraising, so it’s worth doing a quick check before you launch.
- Post about it. Share your club’s amazing progress on social media and in newsletters.
- Say thank you. A short note to every donor and volunteer goes a long way in showing your gratitude and helping this cause.
How do you donate funds?
Your club has two options for giving: make an online donation or mail a check with a gift form.
If you’re mailing a check:
- Collect all donations and convert cash to a check or money order. Make the check payable to Kiwanis Children’s Fund.
- Complete the gift form from Key Club International.
- Send the check and completed gift form to:
Kiwanis Children’s Fund
P.O. Box 6457 – Dept #286
Indianapolis, IN 46206 U.S.
ATTN: Trick-or-Treat
Include “Trick-or-Treat” and your club number on the check’s memo line.