Happy Halloween weekend from all of us here at CRS!

Many of us are lucky to be able to partake in trick-or-treating, whether with our kids, grandkids or other ghouls and goblins. With all that candy, what’s one to do? You may choose to bask in the sugar rush, or if you’re looking for an alternative way to get to the bottom of that candy bucket, you can make a donation to someone deserving of a much needed treat; our troops, aka ‘Treats for our Troops’.

Our service members as well as our veterans, wounded, deployed personnel and their families may often miss out on Halloween treats. Operation Gratitude is teaming up with local businesses and area dentists to send extra, unwanted candy to troops serving overseas. Operation Gratitude is an organization that annually sends 200,000+ care packages to our troops and their families. Also serving Veterans, New Recruits, Wounded Warriors and Military Children in various ways. The Halloween holiday provides an opportunity for anyone to donate their leftover or unwanted candy to a specified local business.

A dentist in Minnesota is paying kids for candy donated. Kids will be paid $1 per pound of donated candy (max payout is $3). Each kid will receive a swag bag filled with a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, and a sticker for participating.

Chances are a business near you may be hosting an event or an open house with goodie bags and freebies alongside the candy buy back.

Find a 2016 Operation Gratitude Halloween Candy GIVE-Back location near you:

http://signup.operationgratitude.com/halloween-candy-give-back-map

http://www.operationgratitude.com/halloween-candy-give-back-locations/

For our local readers, you can donate from 11/01 – 11/04 at any Hungry Howie’s Pizza location throughout the valley. As an ADDED PERK, if you donate your leftover candy you get a free small cheese pizza!

For Hungry Howie’s Arizona participating locations: http://www.12news.com/news/community/2016-treats-for-troops/329258845