Mendham Dentist Sends 350 Pounds of Halloween Candy To American Troops Overseas

MENDHAM, N.J. - Dec. 6, 2013 - PRLog -- MENDHAM, N.J. – About 350 pounds of Halloween candy from local Trick or Treaters and donors is on its way to American troops serving overseas, courtesy of Mendham dentist Karen Fenichel.

Following the first real Halloween in three years, Dr. Fenichel’s team at Jockey Hollow Dentistry (http://www.jockeyhollowdentistry.com) welcomed trick-or-treaters who sold their candy back to the dentist for $1 a pound. Candy was also donated by some adults. The dental team sent the candy to troops overseas through Operation Gratitude. It’s the fourth year that Dr. Fenichel, a general dentist serving the Mendham area, supported American servicemen through California-based Operation Gratitude.

Collections this year put Jockey Hollow Dentistry over the 1,250-pound mark for total donations.

“We’re very excited,” said Dr. Fenichel. “A lot of children brought their candy in and many adults brought in bags of candy. In addition, some children brought us some touching hand-written notes, which we enclosed with the candy.  For a while, one of our treatment rooms was full of boxes of candy.”

In total, the team, with the help of a few patients, packed up 10 boxes and shipped them out last week. Chocolate had to be separated from non-chocolate treats.

“We were sitting on the floor, candy everywhere, separating everything from big sealed bags of candy to individual Milky Ways and tiny Tootsie Rolls, making sure each one got in the right box,” said Dr. Fenichel. “A few patients saw what we were doing, pulled up a chair or sat on the floor and helped.”

Trick-or-treaters were invited to bring up to eight pounds of candy to Jockey Hollow Dentistry and sell it to Dr. Fenichel for a $1 a pound. Children had to be 16 years old or younger and accompanied by an adult.

“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.”

Operation Gratitude is part of a well-established national program that 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. The organization anticipates sending its 1 millionth care package on Dec. 7.

The program also serves service member’s children and assists returning injured warriors. Last year, it sent treats to New Jersey service families impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Each Halloween, the organization encourages the candy buy-back. Dentists around the country collect the candy and pay to ship it to California. Last year, the organization sent 60,000 care packages with 125 tons of candy.

Dr. Fenichel said she became involved with the program four years ago because many of the families at Jockey Hollow Dentistry have 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. It’s a small gesture to send a little taste of this fun-oriented holiday 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 some 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.”

Dr. Fenichel is the principal at Jockey Hollow Dentistry (http://www.jockeyhollowdentistry.com/?utm_source=newsrele...), 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.