CANDY FOR CASH
CANDY FOR CASH
Kids' Halloween sweets go to overseas troops
ROXANNE BROWN
Staff Writer
CLERMONT -- South Lake children in need of a little spending money may want to consider sacrificing their Halloween candy for cash this year.
All they have to do is get a ride to Dr. Julie Russo's office at Clermont Pediatric Dentistry, 1804 Oakley Seaver Drive, where she is prepared to offer $1 for every pound of candy from children ages 2 to 12. The offer is good from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2.
"It's something we saw that we wanted to try. We figured it would be something good to start around the community," Russo said.
Russo said the program was started in 2006 by Dr. Chris Kammer, a cosmetic dentist in Madison, Wis.
She said the program is growing.
The candy will be given to Operation Shoebox of Mount Dora, where it will be packaged and disbursed to troops overseas.
"Ditch the candy, earn some money and help our troops overseas. Visiting your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, but doing away with excess sweets altogether would really give your teeth a boost," Russo said in a press release. "Kids can still have all the fun of trick-or-treating and now their piggy banks will benefit as well."
This is Russo's first attempt.
"If people like it, we'll keep doing it every year," Russo said. "It's a fun way to promote healthy habits."
Russo found two sponsors -- Chik fil-A and First Green Bank -- who will give prizes to the children who bring candy.
Russo's staff will give toothbrushes and plan to raffle off two ipod nanos.
The candy trade-in amount is limited to $5 per child and all candy turned in must be unopened.
Children do not have to be patients at Clermont Pediatric Dentistry to participate.
For more information, call (352) 241-6333 or e-mail Russo at drjulie@clermontpediatricdentistry. com.
Friday, October 30, 2009 - www.dailycommercial.com/1030candy