Dentists offering cash for Halloween candy to send to troops

Trick-or-treaters willing to part with some of their candy can turn it into cash at the dentist office.

A few dental clinics in Sioux Falls are offering kids $1 per pound for candy today as part of a national Halloween Candy Buyback program.

All those Snickers and Skittles won’t go to waste. The candy will be shipped to U.S. troops overseas as part of Operation Gratitude care packages.

As of mid-afternoon Monday, Sensational Smiles at 6301 S. Minnesota Ave. had collected about 145 pounds of candy from kids looking to lighten their loads.

“They don’t need to eat all that candy, and as dentists we want them to spread that candy around,” said Elisabeth Olsen, marketing coordinator at Sensational Smiles.

Family Dentistry of Sioux Falls, 3508 S. Minnesota Ave., is taking part for the fifth year. Marketing coordinator Brittany Rygg said most kids are excited to donate their candy, but she can tell a few of them have been pressured by their parents.

“It’s a great time and we have a lot of fun doing it,” Rygg said. “The kids get money for the candy and it gets sent to the troops and they get a little something to brighten their day up as well.”

Other dental clinics participating in the program include Children's Dental Center at 3813 S Kiwanis Circle and Wehrkamp Dentistry in Brandon.