Dentists Buy Back Kids' Excess Halloween Candy
ROSELLE, Ill. (CBS) -- A visit to the dentist Tuesday could turn your leftover Halloween candy into cash.
As WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports, the nationwide program is called Halloween Candy Buy Back. Participating dentists will pay people who come in with their leftover candy.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports
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Dr. Peter Chang is taking up a collection at Roselle Dental in Roselle.
He is accepting candy, he says, for "a dollar per pound, up to 5 pounds, for their extra Halloween candy. We want to take it off their hands."
But what are the dentists going to do with all that candy? Throw it in the dumpster? Burn it in a huge, stinky bonfire?
No, it's still going to be enjoyed.
"What we're going to do is ship it off to a program called Operation Gratitude in California," he said.
Operation Gratitude then packs up the candy and ships it off to U.S. troops serving overseas.
Another dentist, Dr. Theodore Siegel at Big Smile Dental in Chicago, calls the program a win-win for everyone.
"The kids are thrilled to share their treats; to do something for our troops overseas, and the moms are happy to get rid of the excess candy," Siegel said.
He says giving the troops a little bit of sweetness is the least we can do for them.
"We know our men and women serving overseas sacrifice a great deal every day," he said.
Siegel is even throwing in a free toothbrush for every child who brings in candy to the office, at 2833 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the Logan Square neighborhood. You don't have to be a patient Dr. Siegel's to participate.
