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Local Dentistry Gives Back Through Candy Donations Local Dentistry Gives Back Through Candy Donations

By Corey Spector

Today's Dentistry in Liverpool
© 2019 Corey Spector

COREY SPECTOR: BRUSHING YOUR TEETH TWO TIMES A DAY IS SO VALUABLE. IT’S EVEN MORE VALUABLE DURING THE HALLOWEEN SEASON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE AMOUNT OF CANDY YOU EAT. AMERICANS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEND OVER TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS ON HALLOWEEN CANDY. THAT COMPUTES TO ALMOST 600 MILLION POUNDS OF SWEETS. YEA, THAT’S A LOT TO CUT DOWN ON. ONE LOCAL BUSINESS HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK IS TRYING TO MAKE AN IMPACT AND PROVIDE THAT CANDY TO PEOPLE WHO COULD USE IT JUST A BIT MORE. AND IT ALL STARTS RIGHT HERE, AT TODAY’S DENTISTRY IN LIVERPOOL, WHERE THEY’VE BEEN RUNNING THE CANDY BUY-BACK PROGRAM FOR A DECADE.

KAREN SANTY: THE IDEA BEHIND IT WAS TO GIVE KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE TURN IN SOME OF THAT CANDY THAT’S NOT THEIR FAVORITE, THAT THEY DON’T LOVE, AND IN TURN THAT GOES TO A SOLDIER SOMEWHERE AROUND THE WORLD THAT COULD USE A TREAT.

SPECTOR: SANTY ESTIMATES TODAY’S DENTISTRY HAS DONATED BETWEEN FIVE TO SIX THOUSANDS POUNDS OF CANDY OVER THE PROGRAM’S FIRST NINE YEARS. PRIMARILY THROUGH TWO ORGANIZATIONS, THE U-S-O FORT DRUM AND THE BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF ROCHESTER. HOWEVER, IT GETS A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL THAN JUST CANDY.

SANTY: WE INVITE ANY KID THAT PARTICIPATES IN THIS TO WRITE A LETTER OR DRAW A PICTURE OR COLOR A PICTURE THAT’S INCLUDED IN THE CARE PACKAGES, SO I THINK THAT’S KINDA A REALLY COOL PART.

SPECTOR: PROVIDING SWEETS TO THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM – UNDOUBTEDLY A GREAT CAUSE. ALTHOUGH, NOBODY’S SAYING DON’T SNEAK A TREAT OR TWO DURING HALLOWEEN, AS LONG AS YOU STAY DILIGENT WITH YOUR HYGIENE.

AMANDA ASHBY: BRUSH MOST IMPORTANTLY AT BED TIME, WITH FLOSSING, AND TO AVOID ANY REALLY STICKY CANDIES LIKE SOUR PATCH KIDS, CARAMEL. M AND M’S ARE THE BEST BECAUSE THE CHOCOLATE MELTS RIGHT OFF YOUR TEETH.

SPECTOR: DONATE THE LEFTOVERS, MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY, AND ALWAYS KEEP THOSE PEARLY WHITES NICE AND CLEAN. COREY SPECTOR, NCC NEWS.

By Corey Spector SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — When you’re scarfing down candy during Halloween, keep in mind those who fight for our freedom who may not have access to candy. Luckily, one local dentistry is providing a big hand towards filling the stomachs of our troops throughout the past decade

Today’s Dentistry in Liverpool is in the midst of its tenth year participating in the Halloween Candy Buy Back program. Throughout the country, local businesses and primarily dental offices offer customers an opportunity to donate extra candy in exchange for money or small goods. Today’s Dentistry offers children $1 for every pound (up to five) of candy they turn in.

The dental office then sends the candy to two places, the USO Fort Drum and the Blue Star Mothers of Rochester. Each collects the donated candy and assembles them into care packages for American troops to eat all over the world.

Today’s Dentistry Office Manager Karen Santy described the process of how the soldiers receive the candy. “They have the soldiers that come in from being overseas. They have to come in. They have to spend a couple days on base,” Santy said. “There’s always a little bowl of candy waiting for them when they get to their space.”

What makes Today’s Dentistry unique from other businesses pursuing this initiative is the heavy involvement with local schools. Santy said the office works very closely with Long Branch Elementary School in Liverpool, where a yearly contest is held. Whichever class provides the most candy donations wins a free pizza party.

Today’s Dentistry also has connections with the Vernon Verona Sherrill Central School District, the Baldwinsville Central School District, St. Margaret’s School, and a slew of other schools throughout the area.

Santy estimated the office has provided between 5,000 – 6,000 pounds of candy over the first nine years, and hopes to break the 2,000-pound mark during this Halloween. If you are interested in donating extra Halloween candy, please call Today’s Dentistry at (315) 451-7890 or visit their office at 7418 Oswego Rd, Liverpool, NY 13090.

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