Amherst, NY – For the 6th year in a row, Dr. Michael Foley (“Dr. Mike”) and his staff at Winning Smiles Pediatric Dentistry are inviting children and schools in the area to bring in their Halloween candy and earn $1 per pound! Last year, Foley collected 4,100 pounds of Halloween candy and hopes to topple the 5,000 pound threshold this year. All candy collected will be shipped to Operation Gratitude, a California organization that assembles and ships special care packages overseas to deployed troops.

Foley and his staff believe that their candy buy-back program helps children make responsible decisions about their health, all while helping Operation Gratitude’s endeavors to bring comfort and support to our brave soldiers overseas. Sugar consumption among children has skyrocketed in recent years, leading to childhood obesity, hyperactivity, diabetes, cavities, and more severe dental issues. By giving them incentive to curb their sugar consumption, the doctors and staff at Winning Smiles hope to help the children of their community avoid risky health habits. Schools that organize candy collections among their students are encouraged to use their earnings for books, computers, playground updates, and other investments that benefit their students.

Foley held Winning Smiles’ first Halloween Buyback when he first bought the pediatric dental practice in 2006. The dentist began the tradition by handing out dollar bills to trick-or-treaters in his neighborhood to spread the word about the buy-back, and collected only a few pounds of candy after Halloween. Each year, the candy collections have increased dramatically, filling entire rooms and hallways in the practice.

November 1st and 2nd from 3 PM to 9 PM, Winning Smiles invites children and schools to their Amherst location, 3476 Sheridan Drive, Amherst, NY 14226 to trade their candy for cash, enjoy children’s entertainment, create Thank You cards for the troops, win prizes and giveaways, and meet servicemen displaying their military vehicles. Camera crews from a popular cable TV show will be covering the excitement!



Contact:
Chelsea Merlo
Professional Relations Coordinator
Work: 716-332-2444 | Cell: 716-866-7272
ChelseaM@winningsmilespd.com
www.winningsmilespd.com
www.facebook.com/WinningSmilesPediatricDentistry

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