The great Halloween candy buyback Returns

Oct. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- Press release          October 22, 2012

THE 6TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN CANDY BUYBACK that supports Operation Gratitude’s efforts to send holiday packages to the troops serving overseas is back.
Many of the service men and women stationed in Colorado Springs are deployed overseas in Afghanistan.   Every year they receive holiday care packages through Operation Gratitude which include Halloween candy donated by children and their parents from their excess trick or treat bounty. Last year 150,000 packages were sent to the troops which included 125 tons of candy. The troops enjoy the candy and often they give the candy to the children they encounter.
The local Colorado Springs sponsor for the Halloween candy buyback, as in years past, is Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center located in Southwest Colorado Springs close to Fort Carson. Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center has supported this worthwhile program from its beginning in 2007. Each year they set a goal to exceed the previous year’s total donated amount which was over 400 lbs of candy.  Interested parties are invited to bring their unopened candy to Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center on November 1st, 2nd or 5th  , 2012. They are located at 1803 B Street, Colorado Springs, CO  80906.  Call 719-576-1730 for directions if needed.
Children bringing in their excess Halloween bounty will receive $1.00 per pound of candy donated to Operation Gratitude, plus each child will receive a free gift bag with a Firefly flashing light toothbrush, tooth paste, stickers and fun flossers.
In addition to candy, the troops can also use lip balm, small stuffed toys, hand knit scarves and hats, beef jerky, socks, energy bars and personal thank you letters. Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center will ship all donations along with toothbrushes to Operation Gratitude who will put together the care packages.  The staff at Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center encourages everyone to get involved with worthy effort to support out troops.

Operation Gratitude annually sends  care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions, to their children left behind and to Wounded Warriors recuperating in Transition Units. Our mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people.  Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 725,000 packages to American Military deployed overseas.