Halloween’s real boogeyman this year is the coronavirus, which is lurking behind every mask.

The CDC and public health officials recommend that Halloween traditions should not happen.  Considering all the challenges and disappointments children have faced this year, canceling Halloween seems too harsh. Therefore, everyone needs to be creative in planning Halloween activities for their family.

Ideas include pumpkin carvings, costume contests, neighborhood scavenger hunts – where they look for Halloween-themed things while walking outside and keeping six feet away from other people – or a “one-way trick-or-treating,” which involves picking up wrapped goody bags left at the ends of driveways or the edges of yards, rather than two-way interactions at front doors.

Another idea is to teach children to donate to worthwhile projects such as UNICEF.

Started on Halloween 1950 as a local event in Philadelphia the program historically involves the distribution of small orange boxes by schools to trick-or-treaters, with which they can solicit small change donations from the houses they visit.

UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, is devoted to aiding national efforts to improve health, nutrition, education and sanitation and provide emergency relief in response to disasters.

UNICEF relies entirely on contributions from governments and private donors. Its total income has reached $5.2 billion, of which two-thirds came from governments, private groups and individuals.

It is one of the world’s largest providers of vaccines.

UNICEF works in 190 countries through country programs and UNICEF national committees. The 36-member executive board is made up of government representatives elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

For over six decades, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs has supported UNICEF’s efforts to ensure access to clean water, proper sanitation facilities, health services, education and protection during emergencies for the world’s most vulnerable children. Most recently UNICEF has added the End Trafficking project.

Book Lovers Study Club has supported UNICEF through donations for more than 40 years.

UNICEF will continue its Halloween tradition by implementing a virtual trick-or-treat experience through the month of October. You can add purpose to Halloween by collecting lifesaving donations for UNICEF virtually.

Send your donations by check or money order to TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038, or donate by phone, (800) FOR-KIDS.