Yellowknife (Oct 29/03) - Unicef fundraising is taking a giant step in Yellowknife, as two students bring the well-known orange and black Halloween boxes to life-size proportions.

St. Patrick high school students Douglas Needham and Corey McManaman were captivated by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) presenter Lydia Hill in early October.

After the students saw the slides showing ways Unicef helps children in under-developed countries, they volunteered to raise funds in Yellowknife.

Hill had the perfect idea for the young humanitarians: the Unicef people box. The costume provides health and education information for children around the world.

People boxing is a popular alternative for older students to the standard Halloween box, she says.

Needham likes to don the full size costume and approach students at St. Pats, while McManaman collects coins from them.

"We figured we'd be able to help people in third world communities. Yellowknife doesn't really do that," says Needham.

Shocking the people

Needham and McManaman think the people box shocks people into finding out more about Unicef. As big as the two students, it's a hard to ignore.

"No one knows about (Unicef). Yellowknife is so big on other fundraising that it's left out," said McManaman.

Hill visited 11 schools in Yellowknife to talk about joining the Halloween box fundraiser. Only two schools took part last year.

The Calgary volunteer said that five new schools signed on for the program this year.

N.J MacPherson, Ecole St. Joseph, J.H Sissons and Alain St. Cyr, and St. Pat's joined Mildred Hall and William McDonald schools in the project.

It was the first time Unicef sent a presenter to the city.

Canadians have raised over $81 million in the 53 years of the Halloween box program.