Want to Participlate? Contact Kim at kim@ostlerdds.com

Welcome to “Operation Cash-For-Candy”, the Tri-Cities newest way to fight the war on Halloween candy overload and tooth cavities, plus a great way to say thanks to the brave men and women serving our country.

During the first week of November, area healthcare offices will be “buying back” your children’s uneaten, wrapped “leftover” Halloween candy. All the candy that is “bought back” will be shipped overseas to our troops. Children and parents will also have the opportunity to sign cards for our troops as well.

When you stop in we will pay your little ones $1 per pound of candy they donate. They can choose to keep the money or donate it back to help pay for shipping the candy to the soldiers. Plus – they will also be registered to win a Toys R Us gift card, an iPod, and other prizes.

Each office will have their own drop off days and times so be sure to click on one of the participating office links on the right to get times and office drop off locations and driving directions. Reminders and news announcements will be made through the local media,so mark this event on your calendars and remember to join us in showing our appreciation for the troops.

What is Operation Cash-For-Candy?
A group of local health professionals are collaborating to protect the health of young trick-or-treaters and to say thanks to the troops fighting to keep the free world safe. Working with Operation Gratitude, these doctors are buying back excess & leftover Halloween candy and sending it to the troops.

What happens to the candy?
The candy is given to two non-profit organizations - Operation Thank You and Operation Gratitude. The candy is re-packaged into care packages and sent to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Operation Thank You
Operation Thank You is a local non-profit organization comprised of individuals throughout the communities of Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, West Richland, Prosser and the Lower Yakima Valley of Washington State . Their mission is to ensure that all military personnel and their families, past and present, are treated with the utmost respect, and to enlighten the community as to the needs of our military and their dependents.

Amvet Post 397 has placed boxes through out the community collecting supplies for operation thank you's wish list. Please click the operation thank you link below to view supplies needed under "Care Packages". Click here to visit the Operation Thank You Website.

If you would like to donate any items or would like any further information on Amvet Post 397, please contact Larry Olsen at:
Phone: 509-946-9411 (post) • 509-943-9499 (home)
Email: wildmanbotw@aol.com

Click Here to view other items that you can donate to Operation Thank You

Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude is a non-profit organization based in California. Their mission is to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed in harm's way.

Click here to visit the Operation Gratitude Website.

Watch the video below on Operation Gratitude Halloween Candy Buy Back Program.

Why send candy to the troops?
That is a very good question! While we don’t believe in taking all the fun and sweetness of Halloween night traditions away from the kids, we do believethe excess candy is always better off with a responsible adult than with a child. In addition to being a welcome and deserved treat, the military troops use the candy to befriend the locals and trade for information which often saves lives by finding hidden explosive devices and other dangers.

What is Operation Gratitude?
Through collection drives, letter writing campaigns and donations of funds for shipping expenses OPERATION GRATITUDE provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. Military in an active, hands-on manner. Learn more at http://www.opgratitude.com/mission.php

“It's people like you who do the simple things to remind us soldiers that we’re not forgotten.”

Copyright © 2009 Operation Cash-For-Candy. All Rights Reserved.