MACON, Ga. — Once Halloween is over and the kids are too full to eat more candy, what can you do with it? One way is to trade in that leftover candy for some cash while helping those serving our country.
Typically on Halloween, you see parents handing out candy to kids which can either be a trick or a treat.
But at MaconSmiles Laser and Cosmetic Family Dentistry, they're buying back that Halloweeen candy one pound at a time to prevent cavities and to promote healthy dental hygiene.
MaconSmiles is holding its annual Halloween Candy Buy Back deal where kids can bring their unopened Halloween candy and receive one dollar per pound of candy.
Doctor Sheila K. Shah talked about how this benefits kids and parents.
"The children have the opportunity to do something novel with their Halloween candy," Dr. Shah said. "We're teaching them they can have the enjoyment of trick or treating they can have it in moderation and then be done with it and not be so addicted to sugar."
The extra candy is then bagged and shipped as a care package with a letter to troops overseas through an organization called Operation Shoebox.
"We have a fond heart, a soft space in our heart for the military and we're very honored to be able to help in some way," Shah said.
When it comes to parent Mallory Commodore, she said she's stopped buying candy, especially during the holidays.
"My son's birthday is in October and that rolls into the holiday parties at school for Halloween, Thanksgiving, then there's Christmas then it stops for a moment then there's everything that they get to eat during the holidays in January," Commodore said.
Arthur Holmes and his wife chose a healthier alternative to hand out to kids this Halloween.
"This year, we're giving the kids sugar-free candy because we don't know whether they're diabetic or have other health problems," Holmes said.
Overall, the Halloween Candy Buy Back is to break the cycle of candy addiction in kids and help parents along the way.
"Please take care of your children's teeth," parent Tony Roberson said. "It's detrimental to their health if you don't help to take care of their teeth."
MaconSmiles is located at 4929 Forsyth Road in Macon. Their Halloween Candy Buy-Back deal runs from Nov. 1 through Nov. 10.