For the ninth year in a row, Carlsbad orthodontist Michael G. Willes traded local children cash for their Halloween candy.
Dr. Willes' annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back Nov. 2 netted about 130 pounds of trick-or-treating bounty. In exchange for their sticky, sugary treats, Willes paid kids $1 per pound.
He also gave each child a goody bag filled with a toothbrush, color-changing pencil, magnet, stickers, dental health puzzles and a balloon. Willes sweetened the deal even more by contributing an additional $1 per pound to local schools.
All of the candy that Willes bought back was donated to the Brother Benno Center in Oceanside where it will be distributed a few pieces at a time with the meals served to the needy there, or in the sack lunches they hand out.
“After all, a small treat for many people is definitely healthier than a single kid eating 4 pounds of candy in three days,” Willes said. “Of course, toothbrushes also accompany the candy donation, so everybody wins.”
As far as Willes and his staff are concerned, they are the real winners because the Halloween Candy Buy-Back is one of their favorite events of the year.
It is so fun to see the children come in with their bulging bags and to be there as they eagerly watch the scale while their Halloween haul is weighed and they collect their money, according to Willes' staff. His staff said it's also gratifying to hear the parents thank Willes for hosting the event because, although almost everyone loves to trick-or-treat, parents aren't usually too excited about the excessive sugar intake that follows.
“This event makes Halloween at least a little healthier in a fun way,” Willes said.
For more information or to learn about next year's Halloween Candy Buy-Back, call (760) 434-5031 or visit www.willesortho.com.
Dr. Willes' annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back Nov. 2 netted about 130 pounds of trick-or-treating bounty. In exchange for their sticky, sugary treats, Willes paid kids $1 per pound.
He also gave each child a goody bag filled with a toothbrush, color-changing pencil, magnet, stickers, dental health puzzles and a balloon. Willes sweetened the deal even more by contributing an additional $1 per pound to local schools.
All of the candy that Willes bought back was donated to the Brother Benno Center in Oceanside where it will be distributed a few pieces at a time with the meals served to the needy there, or in the sack lunches they hand out.
“After all, a small treat for many people is definitely healthier than a single kid eating 4 pounds of candy in three days,” Willes said. “Of course, toothbrushes also accompany the candy donation, so everybody wins.”
As far as Willes and his staff are concerned, they are the real winners because the Halloween Candy Buy-Back is one of their favorite events of the year.
It is so fun to see the children come in with their bulging bags and to be there as they eagerly watch the scale while their Halloween haul is weighed and they collect their money, according to Willes' staff. His staff said it's also gratifying to hear the parents thank Willes for hosting the event because, although almost everyone loves to trick-or-treat, parents aren't usually too excited about the excessive sugar intake that follows.
“This event makes Halloween at least a little healthier in a fun way,” Willes said.
For more information or to learn about next year's Halloween Candy Buy-Back, call (760) 434-5031 or visit www.willesortho.com.