From left, Shinera Piazza, RDH, Regional Team Leader, and Nicole Mitchell, Social Media & Marketing Director at Valley Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, alongside the candy donated to United for the Troops through the practice’s Halloween buyback event.
Halloween candy is making its way from local Jefferson Valley homes to U.S. service members stationed overseas, thanks to a sweet community initiative by Valley Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics.
Ahead of Veterans Day, the Valley Pediatric Dentistry team delivered a large donation of Halloween candy to United for the Troops, a Carmel-based nonprofit that sends care packages to deployed service members. Since 2007, United for the Troops has distributed more than 39,000 care packages to deployed service members.
During a one-day candy buyback event, patients brought their leftover Halloween candy to the Jefferson Valley office and received $1 per pound, up to five pounds per patient. The practice then donated all collected candy to United for the Troops to be included in care packages for deployed service members.
The initiative is especially meaningful as Valley Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
“Celebrating 25 years in the community is a milestone we are incredibly proud of. We wanted to mark the occasion with an initiative that brought our patients together for a good cause while teaching children the importance of giving back. It’s a small way to show our appreciation for the men and women who serve our country,” Ashley Witkiewicz, COO of Valley Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics.
“Every care package is a reminder to our service members that they are appreciated and remembered back home. These donations help us bring a little taste of home to those serving far from their families, and we are grateful to Valley Pediatric Dentistry and its patients for making that possible,” said Jim Rathschmidt, Co-Founder of United for the Troops.