Halloween Candy Buyback a Treat for Troops

A North Shore dentist is giving local children a chance to turn their Halloween candy into cash, and send a sweet gift to American troops stationed overseas.

. The day after, as children's blood sugar levels return to normal, Stephanie Murphy, a dentist in Glendale, says she’ll shell out a buck for every pound of candy she receives. She’ll collect the treats from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday at her Glendale office located at 7040 N. Port Washington Rd.

Murphy will send the candy to Operation Gratitude, a California organization that ships care packages to troops deployed overseas.

The program is double-fold Murphy explained, with children parting with those empty calories and cavities and showing some appreciation for soldiers.

“Most kids get much more candy than they really need. A lot of candy causes teeth problems and health problems and it’s a nice gesture for the troops as well,” Murphy said.

Murphy's effort is part of a nationwide campaign that saw more than 125 tons of candy collected last year.

This is Murphy’s first year participating, and she’s eager to get her hands on those Halloween treats.