At Halloween feed war victims

If the Ghost of Halloween Past were to visit, it would remind us what previous generations have done on Trick-or-treat night to feed starving war victims.

In 1947, just two years after World War II, the Washington Post reported that children were giving up their trick-or-treating to collect donations to feed hungry kids overseas. The destruction of World War II, combined with drought, left many children in Europe and Asia starving.

The aftermath of the Korean War also left a severe hunger crisis, with many children suffering malnutrition. For Halloween night in 1953 the Los Angeles Times reported that kids in Fullerton and Laguna Beach were raising donations to feed Korea's starving children.

In 1974 UNICEF, the U.N. Children's Agency, declared a state of emergency for kids in developing countries. UNICEF's annual Halloween fundraising event was desperately needed that year. A Hartford Courant article headline read “Halloween UNICEF Fund Needs More Than Ever.” The U.S. Committee for UNICEF stated in the article “Every day famine pushes its path further around the equator, threatening up to half a billion Third World children.”

The charity CARE reported thousands of dollars in donations that same Halloween which allowed them to buy food packages to feed the hungry. The Chicago Tribune said the Paul DiAngi family in Summit, Illinois pasted an article on their window titled "The Faces of Hunger” with a message ”We donated, will you?” Kids started dropping off coins which the family sent to CARE.

This Halloween we need that same giving spirit as war causes havoc and hunger across the globe.

War has now erupted again in the Middle East after the Hamas militant group launched terror attacks in Israel. As Israel attacks Gaza, where Hamas is based, humanitarian needs are soaring. Palestinian families in Gaza are displaced and starving as food distribution has broken down because of the fighting.

You can help the war victims in Gaza by donating to charities like UNICEF and the U.N. World Food Program (WFP). The WFP reported shortages in funding for Palestine all year, leading to ration cuts in Gaza. WFP and other relief agencies must get more funding.

Wars in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, and D.R. Congo are also escalating hunger and displacement. Drought and conflict in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel is threatening millions with starvation.

It would be tragic if the relief agencies had to cut rations again at a time like this. But it has happened already in Yemen and other countries. We can make sure WFP, UNICEF, CARE, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Mary’s Meals and so many others have enough resources.

At Halloween you could host your own trick-or-treat event to collect donations to feed the hungry, including those suffering in war zones.

The more people know about the humanitarian crisis worldwide, the more will take action. We want Congress to be aware too so they can increase funding for global food aid.

Remember the message of the Ghost of Halloween Past. We can do something to feed the world’s hungry on Halloween night.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.”