By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Halloween is only a few days 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 200,000 care packages annually to veterans, wounded warriors, soldiers and more.

The Halloween candy buy back program has been set for Tuesday, Nov. 7 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 has helped organize the candy buy back the past few years and is encouraged by the fact that troops overseas will be able to enjoy a small taste of home while being deployed.

For each pound of Halloween candy brought in on Nov. 7, children will receive $1 and Cahaba Dental Arts will also match each dollar raised to send to the Food Bank of Central Alabama, according to Mashayekh.

Those wishing to participate in the candy buy back on Nov. 7 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.

For more information on Operation Gratitude, visit Operationgratitude.com.