<P> Trick - or - Treat for UNICEF is a fund - raising program for children sponsored by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF . Started on Halloween 1950 as a local event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the program historically involves the distribution of small orange boxes by schools to trick - or - treaters, in which they can solicit small change donations from the houses they visit . Millions of children in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, and Hong Kong participate in Halloween - related fund - raising events for Trick - or - Treat for UNICEF, and the program has raised over US $188 million worldwide . </P> <P> Trick - or - Treat in UNICEF was invented by Mary Emma Allison, the wife of Presbyterian minister Clyde Allison . In 1949, the Allisons were living in Bridesburg, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States . When Mrs. Allison saw a UNICEF booth collecting funds to send powdered milk to undernourished children around the world, she thought of getting children to collect donations for UNICEF instead of candy . Reverend Clyde Allison introduced the concept to local Presbyterian churches . On Halloween 1950, the Allisons recruited their own children and their community's to go door - to - door collecting nickels and dimes in decorated milk cartons to aid children in post-World War II Europe . They collected a total of $17 and donated all of it to UNICEF . </P>

Where was trick or treat for unicef started