Where Can I Donate Leftover Halloween Candy?

After the elaborate costumes are put away and the eye-popping decorations come down, the common aftermath of a successful night of trick-or-treating is a massive haul of colorfully wrapped sweets. Although it’s common knowledge that sugar is bad for dental health, many parents face the dilemma of what to do with all the candy. Let the kids eat it? Throw half of it away? Nibble at it yourself? Wherever you find yourself in that debate, consider that there might be a win-win answer. Have you ever considered talking with your child(ren) about donating some of their leftover candy to a good cause?

Just About Everyone Loves Candy

Yes, even those of us who work in a dentist’s office must admit some love for the sweet stuff. From smooth, silky chocolate to tart, sour gummies, everyone obviously has their favorites. And most of us have had those sugar crash headaches by eating too much of a good (tasting) thing. Unfortunately, candy is one of the worst offenders in the battle to protect tooth enamel.

So, as you and your young ones are sifting through all the evening’s take, start discussing which sweets they like. Make it a game, where they divide up the treats they like from the stuff they don’t really care about – even if they want to still eat it. Then work together on deciding how much candy they will be allowed to eat each night. One piece? Two pieces? Even five pieces?

After you’ve settled on a count, decide how long you are willing to have them eat through all this candy. Remember that three additional candy-filled holidays will be following soon:

• Christmas in less than 2 months
• Valentine’s Day in less than 4 months
• then Easter about 2 months after that

Whatever the cut-off will be, set the date, then count how much candy they will eat between now and then. Explain to them that whatever is left can be donated to someone else, and they can even help determine the recipient. Here are a few ideas to start.

What Can I Do with Leftover Candy?

There are a handful of non-profit and other organizations that accept unopened Halloween candy and then distribute it to designated groups like food pantries, homeless shelters, and members of the armed forces. Check around your community, at church or school, and during organization and club meetings, to see who might be able to help in your endeavor. If you run into any challenges, here are a few organizations you might consider:

Operation Shoebox

The first organization on this list not only accepts Halloween candy but also any sweets and treats year-round. Volunteers at Operation Shoebox include a bag of donated leftover candy in every care package they ship out to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and other brave members of our armed forces.

Operation Gratitude

Update 2023: Operation Gratitude is pausing its Halloween Candy Giveback program for 2023 due to relocating its headquarters to Southern California. However, they still encourage people to donate to local National Guard bases and First Responder precincts.

Another organization that redirects donated sweets to first responders and deployed troops during this specific time of year is Operation Gratitude. Their annual Halloween Candy Give-Back receives hundreds of thousands of pounds of candy each year, benefiting units around the world.

Move America Forward

Move America Forward’s Halloween Candy Buyback Program is another national effort to support our deserving troops with sweet treats from around the country. During the week after October 31st, the organization offers $1 for every pound of candy donated, up to five pounds total per donor.

Treats For Troops

Soldiers’ Angels Treats For Troops is a candy collection program where local businesses accept Halloween candy after the Trick-or-Treating is over. If you are a business that is interested in allying to help improve dental health, while at the same time supporting our troops, this could be a great opportunity. Alternatively, if you are interested in donating your leftover Halloween candy, there are drop off locations listed on the website.

(Healthy) Smiles All Around

Halloween can be a fun time for kids and parents alike, but it can also be a detriment to our dental health. This blog post outlined some tips on how to handle your leftover Halloween candy so that everyone can enjoy the holiday season without having to worry about cavities. Remember, involving your kids in decision-making will go a long way when making plans for their extra treats. We hope you and your family enjoy this year's candy haul and maybe even donate your extra goodies to one of the worthy organizations we outlined above. And when the happy haunting has come to an end, contact us at Kanehl Dental for your next appointment. No tricks!