9th Annual local Halloween Candy Buyback benefits our troops

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Oct. 28, 2015 - PRLog -- THE 9TH ANNUAL GREAT HALLOWEEN CANDY BUYBACK that supports Operation Gratitude’s efforts to send holiday packages to the troops serving overseas co-sponsored by Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center is scheduled for Monday, November 2^st, Tuesday, November 3^rd and Thursday, November 5^th. This is a great annual charitable event that kids and their parents get involved in.

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. Children bringing in their excess Halloween bounty receive $1.00 per pound of candy donated to Operation Gratitude, plus each child receives a free gift bag with a Firefly flashing light toothbrush and other tooth healthy goodies.

Last year’s Halloween candy buyback was very successful thanks to the generosity of dozens of kids who exchanged their excess Halloween candy for dollars and cool flashing toothbrushes. Interested children are invited to bring their unopened candy to Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center. Last year they brought in over four hundred pounds of candy!

Many of the service men and women stationed in Colorado Springs are deployed overseas. 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 over 170,000 packages were sent to the troops which included approximately 125 tons of candy. The troops enjoy the candy and often they give the candy to the children they encounter. Operation Gratitude will reach the one million package milestone this year.

The troops really appreciate how the buyback supports them.
Check out this letter from a grateful soldier!

"I just wanted to express my thanks and gratitude for all of your care packages you've sent to my platoon this holiday, as it really does so much to lift our spirits, while we are separated from our families and loved ones back home. You should also know that the little kids here in Afghanistan definitely have a sweet tooth for American candy, so we continue to spread the joy of Operation Gratitude by throwing candy to the Afghani kids while we go on patrol. Again, thank you for everything that you do and thank you for supporting the troops. May you have a Merry Christmas and God Bless." v/r, 1LT M.M.

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. Their 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 close to one million packages to American Military deployed overseas.

Dr. Parkin, Colorado Springs dentist, stated, "The Halloween Candy Buyback is so unique in that the candy donation goes to so many causes, both personal and national. This is a perfect example of how our nation shows its pride and we'd like to sincerely thank you for your efforts through the years. Whether it's used as a pick-me-up or a bargaining chip with a child who has intel on insurgent locations, your candy donations make a big difference to a soldier's day and can even save a life."

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.

In addition to candy, Operation Gratitude states that 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 ships all donations along with toothbrushes to Operation Gratitude who will put together the care packages. The staff at Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center wishes to sincerely thank in advance everyone that gets involved with this worthy effort to support our troops. Interested parties may call the office for additional information. They can be reached at 719-576-1730.

Contact
Dr. Ralph Parkin
719-576-1730