Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the costumes, the decorations, the scary stories…but since I became a parent what I dread most of all is negotiating the candy consumption with my kids. They’re too old not to notice if some of the loot “disappears” overnight, and dealing with their jagged moods and energy as a result of the sugar binge is really hard.
Thankfully, a gym in my town has come up with a fantastic solution – they are collecting candy donations for troops the morning after Halloween! This is a great combination – using a place of health and wellness to facilitate a charitable practice. Writing a donation check is a vague concept for children, but parting with precious peanut butter cups is an act of giving they will understand and remember. And while anyone who’s seen FOODPLAY knows that candy is a “whoa!” food, it’s also true that soldiers overseas appreciate these little reminders of traditions back home.
If no one is doing this locally where you live, start up a neighborhood effort yourself! Operation Gratitude and Halloween Candy Buy Back are two of the larger organizations, and can advise you on collecting, packaging and shipping the goodies, but you could also donate to your local Ronald McDonald House for families in residence. Perhaps sweetest of all, have your kids do a “reverse” trick-or-treat and visit a hospital pediatrics wing to give out candies to patients. Whatever you decide, all of us at FOODPLAY hope you have a safe and healthy Halloween!
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