Tricks, Treats and Helping Others

By JoAnn Turnquist
President and CEO, Central Carolina Community Foundation
November 1, 2013

Last night night the doorbell at our house rang, the dogs barked, and we opened the door to a chorus of Trick or Treat!  We live in a fabulous family friendly neighborhood and my husband Ernie and I know many of the kids.  And the kids know our dogs.  Ernie and I did our best to guess who was behind the devil, witch and princess masks while we put generous handfuls of our favorite chocolates in their plastic pumpkins.  And this year we were also be prepared with other treats: coins and dollars for UNICEF and canned goods for Harvest Hope.
 
We were surprised last year when we heard our first Trick or Treat for UNICEF and saw the bright orange box gripped in a tiny hand.  I scrambled to find money to put in the box while Ernie talked to the child’s parents.  The box stirred a memory and after the family left I told Ernie how my sister and I collected money on Halloween – each of us trying to outshout the other – when we were growing up.  Our UNICEF boxes were handed out in school and after the holiday returned to our class to be counted and sent to the organization.  Trick or treating for UNICEF provided us with our first lesson in making an ‘ask’ for someone else.  And today, UNICEF is still focused on saving and improving the lives of children; a mission all kids can get excited about and relate to.
 
Last night, I was pleased to see more kids collecting more than chocolate and this year, we were prepared.

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