Dentists Paying Cash for Candy

Children looking to cash in on their Halloween loot can sell their unopened candy to a dentist office in Riviera Village.

Participating dentists will pay children $1 per pound of candy, according to Operation Gratitude, which runs the program. All candy collected will be packaged up by Operation Gratitude and sent as a "treat for the troops" to servicemen and women deployed overseas.

Locally, Drs. Michael Hopkins & Barbara Kane's Dental Office, located at 1706 S. Elena Ave., Suite B, will collect candy from Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Toys, toothbrushes and coupons from sponsors in Riviera Village will be available for those who donate candy, and everyone who donates will be entered to win a Sonicare Toothbrush. There will also be a giant card for the troops that everyone can sign.

"Last year we collected candy from around 300 children and received 752 (pounds) of candy!" office representative Nikol Drapeau wrote in an announcement on Patch.

Operation Gratitude shipped more than 175 tons of candy overseas last year.

A list of all participating dentists and doctors is posted at halloweencandybuyback.com.

—City News Service contributed to this report.