By Emily Dailey, 2025-26 international trustee
Can you believe it’s time for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF? Each October, Circle K International partners with UNICEF USA to raise funds that will go toward our Brick x Brick initiative, which is helping change lives for families in the African nation of Côte d’Ivoire.
Brick x Brick is an innovative project that transforms plastic waste into classrooms for some of the 1.6 million children who are currently out of school in Côte d’Ivoire.
In 2024, my division collaborated on a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. The host school coordinated parking, transportation to neighborhoods for trick-or-treating and a space for us to eat together afterward. Our lieutenant governor delegated tasks, ordered the iconic orange collection boxes, arranged a pizza dinner, advertised the event and submitted the money raised.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF was the perfect opportunity to hold a fun divisional event. I wore a Care Bear onesie costume to embody the Halloween spirit and received lots of compliments from random students. I even saw another person wearing a Care Bear costume!
As a division, we saw a noncampus side of a community. Traveling to Bloomington-Normal in Ilinois, U.S., gave us an opportunity to connect with community members. We had interesting conversations with residents, and almost everyone was intrigued by the project. At the end of the night, we split the proceeds evenly among our clubs for district records. Collectively, we raised about US$160.
At first, it felt strange to Trick or Treat for money. Over the course of the night, I saw people become more confident in the mission behind Brick x Brick, and we split off into smaller groups.
For CKI members who knew little about the campaign, trick-or-treating helped them see how others responded to the Brick x Brick project, influencing their own perceptions. It is an incredible project that impacts a variety of populations in Côte d’Ivoire: women, their families and school-age children. It improves the quality of life through environmental cleanup and educational opportunities.
Every dollar counts in UNICEF’s effort to improve the lives of Côte d’Ivoire community members. One night of fundraising through trick-or-treating is significant, and it can be a lot of fun for clubs, divisions — even as a district! CKI wants to hear about how you and your club have been impacted by and contributed to this campaign. Our stories inspire others to take part in the fun!