Dentists Buying Back Halloween Candy for Troops

Are you anticipating too much candy around the house Wednesday?

This Halloween, parents and children can get rid of some of the excess sugar coming in around the holiday and earn some money in the process, all while giving back to U.S. Military servicemen and women deployed overseas.

Local dentists participating in Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends care packages to members of the military, will buy back residents' Halloween candy and ship it in holiday care packages to troops overseas. In return, children receive cash and toothbrushes. According to the program’s website, most dentist’s offices pay $1 per pound of candy.

For 2012, the program has also launched a promotion for donors to give goodie bags with tooth brushes and toothpaste, so service members can stay cavity-free, too.

Operation Gratitude has sent upwards of 800,000 care packages to troops since it was founded in 2003. Last year, the program shipped 125 tons of candy to troops.

Here are those offices participating within five miles of Georgetown, but you can click here and input your ZIP Code to find a participating dentist near you. Parents are encouraged to call dentist’s offices to confirm participation.

Georgetown Smile
4400 Macarthur Blvd
Washington D.C., DC, 20007
Phone: (202) 333-0003
Email: georgetownsmile@verizon.net
www.georgetownsmile.com

Harold L. Frank
200 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA, 22203
Phone: (703) 522-2225
Email: bracesdds@aol.com
www.frankorthodontics.com

Hani Thariani, DDS, MMSc, PC
2501 N. Glebe Road, Ste. 300
Arlington, VA, 22207
Phone: (703) 527-5654
Email: tbraces@gmail.com
www.tbraces.com

Kool Smiles
1531 Maryland Ave.
Washington, DC, 20002
Phone: 866-438-5665
Email: smiley@mykoolsmiles.com
mykoolsmiles.com

A Great Smile Dental
7826 Eastern Ave NW Suite 301
Washington, dc, 20012
Phone: (202) 726-5106
Email: admin@agreatsmiledc.com
agreatsmiledc.com