Several Arkansas dentists are participating in a program to buy back sugar-loaded candy from children and send the treats to troops serving overseas.
Northwest Arkansas Family Dental posted on its Facebook page that kids can receive $2 per pound of candy handed over between 2 and 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
It is the seventh year the Fayetteville dentist's office has baught back candy for Operation Gratitude, which sends it to the troops, said Alaina Taliaferro, who handles charity events for office.
Last year, the dentist sent eight Fed-ex boxes of candy to the troops, according to Taliaferro.
"It helps keep kids healthy and it sends candy to the troops that need a little pick-me-up," Taliaferro said, adding that many participants are not regular patients.
Still, she added, the parents are usually much more enthusiastic about the program than the kids, who also get a free toothbrush with the trade-in.
"We try to make it fun," she said. "A lot of parents let kids keep the money."
The website for the Halloween Candy Buy Back program lists five dentists in the Little Rock area participating in its program, which suggests dentists buy back candy for $1 per pound.
Austin Family Dentistry, which is one of the site's listed participants, is offering a goodie bags with healthy snacks, sugar-free gum and toothpaste, said Julia Gildon, a dentist at business' Little Rock office at 11211 Cantrell Rd #200.
Other participants listed on the site include Kool Smiles at 2000 S. University Ave. in Little Rock and 2801 S. Olive St. in Pine Bluff, , Ted M. Pinney at 815 Marshall Road in Jacksonville and Central Arkansas Pediatric Dentistry at 8000 Arkansas 107 Suite 18 in Sherwood.
The website says the program has collected more than 130 tons of candy for troops since it began in 2005.