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A local dentist is holding a Halloween candy buyback event Monday to reduce the amount of sugary candy area children eat and to provide sweet treats to Operation Gratitude for shipment to U.S. troops.
Dr. Renalla Ellis, owner of Impressions Dental, 2510 E. Independence, will buy back a child’s collection of Halloween candy for $1 per pound, up to five pounds per child. Dr. Ellis is prepared to buy back up to 1,000 pounds of candy.
The event will be held 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at her office Monday, where area servicemen are expected to be there to help.
All candy will be shipped to Operation Gratitude, based in California, which ships care packages to members of the U.S. Military.
The event has a dual purpose in that it will keep children from having an excess of candy, while providing a smile and candy to troops serving in harm’s way.
“For them, it’s a special treat — for us at Halloween, it’s an abundance of candy,” she said.
In addition to troops enjoying the candy, they also may share it with local children in areas where they are deployed, such in areas of Iraq, she said.
“In their routes they can give it to the children and befriend the local people,” Ellis said.
Ellis, who wants to support the troops, said this is a way to appreciate those fighting for us.
“Most people forget we’re at war,” she said. “This is a neat way to remember them.”
Ellis said her three children — twins who are age 9 and her youngest, age 6 — will turn over their candy too, although she said she normally doesn’t let them have most of their Halloween candy after the initial celebration.
“I give them free reign on Halloween to eat candy, then I collect it all,” she said.
During the event, Dr. Ellis also will be giving toothbrushes and floss to children.
If she gets a good response to the buyback program, Dr. Ellis said this is something she wants to do every year at Halloween.
If anyone wants to assist with shipping costs to get the candy to Operation Gratitude, they can contact Ellis at 273-2002.
A local dentist is holding a Halloween candy buyback event Monday to reduce the amount of sugary candy area children eat and to provide sweet treats to Operation Gratitude for shipment to U.S. troops.
Dr. Renalla Ellis, owner of Impressions Dental, 2510 E. Independence, will buy back a child’s collection of Halloween candy for $1 per pound, up to five pounds per child. Dr. Ellis is prepared to buy back up to 1,000 pounds of candy.
The event will be held 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at her office Monday, where area servicemen are expected to be there to help.
All candy will be shipped to Operation Gratitude, based in California, which ships care packages to members of the U.S. Military.
The event has a dual purpose in that it will keep children from having an excess of candy, while providing a smile and candy to troops serving in harm’s way.
“For them, it’s a special treat — for us at Halloween, it’s an abundance of candy,” she said.
In addition to troops enjoying the candy, they also may share it with local children in areas where they are deployed, such in areas of Iraq, she said.
“In their routes they can give it to the children and befriend the local people,” Ellis said.
Ellis, who wants to support the troops, said this is a way to appreciate those fighting for us.
“Most people forget we’re at war,” she said. “This is a neat way to remember them.”
Ellis said her three children — twins who are age 9 and her youngest, age 6 — will turn over their candy too, although she said she normally doesn’t let them have most of their Halloween candy after the initial celebration.
“I give them free reign on Halloween to eat candy, then I collect it all,” she said.
During the event, Dr. Ellis also will be giving toothbrushes and floss to children.
If she gets a good response to the buyback program, Dr. Ellis said this is something she wants to do every year at Halloween.
If anyone wants to assist with shipping costs to get the candy to Operation Gratitude, they can contact Ellis at 273-2002.
