Largest Halloween candy exchange byUSdental provider generates more than three tons of donated candy
Atlanta, USA – Kool Smiles, a leading provider of quality dental care in underserved communities, announced a record-breaking 6,620 pounds (more than more tons) of candy collected during its fourth annual Operation Troop Treats. The programme offered children the chance to exchange their Halloween candy for a toy at participating Kool Smiles offices nationwide. In collaboration with Operation Gratitude, the donated candy will be sent in care packages toUS troops abroad, delivering smiles to thousands of American heroes. To date, Operation Troop Treats is the largest Halloween candy exchange by aUS dental provider.
“This year’s Operation Troop Treats witnessed a record amount of children trading in their Halloween candy to bring smiles to soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines serving overseas,” said Kool Smiles Managing Dental Director D Ray Gifford, DDS. “This programme helps children maintain good dental habits while sharing a piece of home with those unable to spend this holiday with their families.”
The Kool Smiles family includes many veterans, in addition to active duty servicemen and women. Delivering quality care to military families is of utmost importance to the children’s dental provider, which accepts Tricare dental insurance for military members and has several dental offices located near military bases. Operation Troop Treats is a small way for Kool Smiles to help share a smile with those who serve our nation each day.
In 2014, kids donated two tons of candy for the troops at Kool Smiles offices nationwide. This year’s collection exceeded that amount by more than 2,600 pounds.
In addition to the candy exchange programme, Kool Smiles is donating 200 dental kits to Operation Gratitude, as well as the funds to cover the assembly and shipment of 200 Operation Gratitude care packages. Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3), volunteer-based organisation that annually produces over 100,000 care packages for US Service Members deployed in harm’s way, their children left behind, New Recruits, Wounded Warriors, Veterans and First Responders. Since 2007, Operation Gratitude, through the Halloween Candy Buy-Back initiative, has encouraged dentists to collect Halloween candy from their patients for donation to the troops. The Kool Smiles programme is the largest Candy Buy-Back effort by a dental organisation participating on a national level.
(Photo credits: PRNewsFoto/Kool Smiles)
