Mendham Dentist to Support Troops Overseas By Buying Kids’ Halloween Candy

Jockey Hollow Dentistry Supporting Operation Gratitude for the Fifth Year
By: Jockey Hollow Dentistry
 
MENDHAM, N.J. - Oct. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- Imagine the smile a Mendham-area trick-or-treater could put on the face of an overseas American soldier just by handing her a piece of candy. That’s what Dr. Karen Fenichel of Mendham sees when she buys Halloween candy from area trick-or-treaters and sends it to servicemen and servicewomen through Operation Gratitude, a California-based group that supplies troops with packages from home.

Dr. Fenichel is a general dentist. Her practice, Jockey Hollow Dentistry, serves the Mendham area. It’s the fifth year the family dentistry practice will help U.S. troops enjoy a bit of Halloween.

“We’re looking forward to good weather on Halloween this year, and collecting a lot of candy to send overseas,” said Dr. Fenichel. In the past four years, Jockey Hollow Dentistry has collected about 1,250 pounds of candy.

Each trick-or-treater can bring up to eight pounds of candy to Jockey Hollow Dentistry, 5 Cold Hill Road South Suite 8, and sell it to Dr. Fenichel for a $1 a pound. Children must be 16 years old or younger and must be accompanied by an adult. Adults may donate extra candy, small toys, other items or notes.

“Halloween means lots of candy all at once,” said Dr. Fenichel. “Children don’t need to eat all the sweets they bring home. Not eating all that candy will prevent a lot of cavities, and sending it to our heroes overseas will give our troops something to enjoy.”

The candy buy-back is part of Operation Gratitude, a well-established national program that sends care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. service members deployed overseas.

The program also serves children of military personnel and assists returning injured warriors. Each Halloween, the organization encourages the candy buy-back. Dentists around the country collect the candy and pay to ship it to California. The organization has sent more than 1.1 million packages overseas.

Dr. Fenichel said she became involved with the program five years ago because many of the families at Jockey Hollow Dentistry had members serving in the military.

“Jockey Hollow Dentistry is a family-oriented practice and we develop close relationships with our patients,” she said. “Some of them have children in the service. I know several young men and women who are serving their country and I think of them as we’re doing this. Sending a little taste of this fun-oriented holiday is a small thank-you gesture to them.”

Dr. Fenichel said the candy she collects will serve two other purposes.

“I’m told the troops love getting the candy,” she said. “Packages like these are great reminders from home that we’re thinking of them and that we appreciate everything they’re doing. I also understand that the troops enjoy some of the candy, but they also give a lot of it to the children in the villages where winning hearts is as important as winning military victories.”

Dr. Fenichel says she’s not worried about contributing to dental problems in combat zones.

“A lot of people ask us about that,” she acknowledged. “Service members are older and their teeth are better developed, so they’re not as susceptible to cavities as young children are. In addition, they understand the need to rinse, brush and floss after eating the sweets.”

Children can bring their candy to Jockey Hollow Dentistry through Nov. 15. Dr. Fenichel and her team will then box the candy and other items and ship them to California, where they will be repackaged as individual care packages.

Dr. Fenichel is the principal at Jockey Hollow Dentistry (http://www.jockeyhollowdentistry.com/?utm_source=PublicRe...), a general dentistry practice in Mendham, N.J. A graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Fenichel welcomes patients of all ages.

Contact
Doug Fenichel, APR
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Source:Jockey Hollow Dentistry
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Tags:Karen Fenichel, Jockey Hollow Dentistry, Operation Gratitude, Halloween, Mendham family dentist
Industry:Family
Location:Mendham - New Jersey - United States
Subject:Services
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