By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Halloween is only a few weeks away and that usually means more than enough candy for children after the trick-or-treating ends.

Instead of throwing the candy away a few days after Halloween, Cahaba Dental Arts in Helena are suggesting children and their parents participate in their Halloween candy buy back program to help send candy to deployed soldiers through the Operation Gratitude program.

Operation Gratitude is a non-profit organization that helps send more than 150,000 care packages annually to veterans, wounded warriors, soldiers and more.

The Halloween candy buy back program has been set for Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 3-6 p.m. at Cahaba Dental Arts located at 100 Brook Dr, Suite A in Helena.

Cahaba Dental Arts Office Manager Hamid Mashayekh explained that the dental office is not trying to take the fun out of giving candy away but the idea is to help give back as much as possible to those serving our country.

“Candy is a fun part of Halloween and we’re not trying to take the fun out of giving candy away,” said Mashayekh. “Instead of a single kid having three pounds of candy to themselves, we think they can bring some of it in and create a care package to send to Operation Gratitude and the Food Bank of Central Alabama.”

Those wishing to participate in the candy buy back on Nov. 3 can show up to Cahaba Dental Arts where there will be paper, pens, crayons and more so kids can draw pictures to send along with the care package.

Mashayekh also said the dental office is planning to include toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss in the care packages along with the candy.

The is the first time Cahaba Dental Arts is participating in the Halloween candy buy back but several dental offices around the country also participate and Mashayekh hopes it will be a big success.