Dentists Want Your Halloween Candy

Whether you’re resisting the temptation to dig into your leftover candy bowl or arguing with the kids about how much of their trick-or-treating bounty they can eat, you’ve probably got more Halloween sweets than you know what to do with right now. Never fear- there’s an answer.

About a dozen dental offices in the greater Sacramento area are collecting Halloween candy for the next two weeks. Some are even offering cash, stickers or toys to kids who give up the goods.

It’s a two-fold project: the dentists are steering kids away from tooth-ruining taffies and chocolates, but they’re also teaching them a lesson in giving. All of the candy gets sent to military service members and first responders.

The Halloween Candy Give-Back is run by California nonprofit Operation Gratitude. There are 3,000 participating dentists nationwide as well as schools, religious organizations and businesses.

Operation Gratitude packs the candy into care packages with clothing, hygiene products and gifts. Founder Carolyn Blashek says no amount of candy is too much.

“The more the better for us, we welcome it. It just means more and more Americans are participating and saying thank you to all who serve.

Last year, the group collected 533,891 pounds of candy.

Call your nearest participating location to find out their candy collection dates and times:

Davis Dental Practice:

 2800 5th St #100, Davis, CA 95618

 (530) 349-1949

Novan Dental

7600 Greenhaven Dr #301, Sacramento, CA 95831

(916) 422-3991

Elk Grove Family Dentistry

9727 Elk Grove Florin Rd #270, Elk Grove, CA 95624

 (916) 685-2105

Make a Smile Dental

3433 Arden Way a, Sacramento, CA 95825

Find more locations here: http://signup.operationgratitude.com/halloween-candy-give-back-map