For most kids, there’s no such thing as too much candy. Most parents would rather not watch that bucket get worked through one fun-size bar at a time until Valentine’s Day.
The good news: several organizations will take your extra Halloween candy off your hands and put it to good use.
Matthew 25: Ministries
This Blue Ash humanitarian aid organization runs a Candy and Christmas Tree Drive each holiday season. It accepts individually wrapped candy, which goes to local food pantries and shelters. Drop off candy at 11083 Kenwood Road in Blue Ash from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The donation area sometimes closes for holidays and special events, so call 513-793-6256 before you load up the car. Details are on the Matthew 25: Ministries product donations page.
Local Dentists
Plenty of pediatric dentists, including Sea of Smiles and Centerville Pediatric Dentistry, run candy buybacks in the weeks after Halloween. Kids trade their candy for cash, a small prize or a toothbrush they will pretend to be excited about, and the office passes the candy along to charity. Many dental offices also sign up as Soldiers’ Angels collection sites (more on that below). Call your pediatric or family dentist to see whether they’re collecting this year.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald Houses give families of seriously ill children a place to stay near the hospital during treatment. Many Houses accept unopened, store-bought candy and snacks for the families staying there. Check with Ronald McDonald House Charities Dayton or Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati before you drop anything off.
Operation Shoebox
Operation Shoebox puts a bag of candy in every care package it sends to deployed service members. It accepts any kind of candy at any time of year. Pack the candy in gallon zip-top bags inside a larger cardboard box and ship it to Operation Shoebox, 8360 E. Highway 25, Belleview, FL 34420. Shipping is on you, and the group doesn’t do pickups. Print the donation form from its site and put it in the box if you want a receipt.
Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops
Soldiers’ Angels collects Halloween candy through businesses, schools, churches and dental offices that register as collection sites. The candy goes to VA hospitals, military installations and Guard and Reserve units, and some goes into care packages for deployed service members. If you have 10 pounds of candy or less, find a drop-off spot on the Treats for Troops Candy Map. Some sites give kids a prize in exchange, and you can ask for a tax-deductible receipt.
More Candy Options
Local homeless shelters, food pantries and nursing homes sometimes take unopened Halloween candy, so it’s worth a phone call. You can also save it for the next birthday piñata or leave it in the break room at work, where it will be gone by noon.
