Donate candy to help soldiers

Donate candy to help soldiers

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Once again, Orthodontics, Inc is celebrating Halloween and National Orthodontic Health Month by holding its annual “Halloween Candy Buy Back." OI buys their young patients candy at $2 per pound up to $20. For the last 5 years, the candy has been shipped overseas to U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the candy recipients have been Indiana National Guard members, as well as members of the U.S. Army, Navy and Marines. This year's OI’s candy donation will be sent to Supporters of Military and the Indiana National Guard.

All seven Orthodontics, Inc offices (Chesterton, Valparaiso, DeMotte, Winfield, Munster, St. John and Schererville) will participate and try to beat last year’s record setting 957 pounds of candy donated.

Donations of candy from the public can be dropped at any OI office during the first week of November, as well. In addition to donating candy, monetary donations, to assist with shipping costs, will also be accepted. Last year many of the children helped raise more than $150 by giving their money back to OI, to help SOM off set the high cost of shipping over seas.

Supporters of Military (SOM) is a not for profit group which offers support to the families of deployed service men and women. They also send care packages, four times per year, to soldier overseas. Last year 900+ pounds of candy went to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. This candy brings a small bit of home to these men and women and, it helps them make friends with the locals.

For information, call Sandy at (219) 926-1463.

--For The Times

Ellie