Candy for Troops Benefits Kids and Soldiers

Halloween brings little ghosts and goblins to our doors, and many of these trick-or-treaters walk away with handfuls of candy. Americans spend about $2 billion on Halloween candy, and a night of visiting houses in the neighborhood can yield a child several pounds. While Halloween can be a fun tradition, consuming too many sweets can contribute to cavities and weight gain.

ORAL HEALTH CARE

Tooth decay is currently the most common childhood disease and is almost 100% preventable. Yet a high number of children do not receive adequate dental or oral health care. Dental care is often cost prohibitive for many people, leading to delays in treatment that can result in a need for more extensive – and often more expensive – care. Without access, an increasing number of patients turn to emergency rooms for dental-related issues and care, thus contributing to rising health care costs for all. A recent Pew report noted that preventable dental conditions were the primary cause of over 830,000 ER visits in the U.S. in 2009, a 16% increase from 2006.

OBESITY EPIDEMIC

The nation’s obesity epidemic is well documented. A report released in September from the Trust for America’s Health warns that if left unchecked, Pennsylvania is one of 39 states which could see its obesity rate rise to over 50% by 2030. (The obesity rate is currently 29% in the Commonwealth.) Obesity is a contributing factor to many chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. The medical costs associated with treating these and other obesity-related conditions are projected to increase by as much as $66 billion per year over the next twenty years.

CANDY FOR TROOPS

Last year, the Montgomery County Oral Health Task Force (MCOH), in partnership with the Montgomery County Health Alliance (MCHA), North Penn YMCA, Dr. Mark Weinstein Family Dentistry and the North Penn Community Health Foundation, launched a candy buyback program:  Candy for Troops.

In its inaugural year, families and their children brought excess candy to the North Penn YMCA and received 50¢ for every pound donated. Dental hygienists from the Montgomery County Community College’s Dental Hygiene Department were on hand to talk with the kids about good dental care and hand out free toothbrushes and other oral health care items. The Y also provided healthy snacks and fun activities including a moon bounce, face painting and an opportunity for kids to create a “thank you” card to be sent along with the candy. Harleysville native and U.S. Army Reserve member Scott Magro was also on hand to talk with the kids about what it means to get a package from home when stationed overseas.

In 2012, the Spring Valley YMCA joined the North Penn YMCA to host Candy for Troops on Friday, November 2. “We decided to drop the buyback aspect of the program this year,” noted Barbara O’Malley, a community health facilitator with the Montgomery County Health Department and the key organizer of Candy for Troops. “Last year, I was surprised by how many people weren’t even interested in receiving money for the candy. Many people told me it wasn’t about the money, it was about giving back.” Both sites hosted activities for children and their families, and kids could once again make a “thank you” card.

Over the two years of the program, more than 1,150 pounds of candy have been collected, representing almost 2.6 million calories saved. That translates into 750 pounds of weight that was kept off kids.

Thanks to a partnership with the nonprofit Food for Troops, the candy was packaged and shipped at a reduced postage rate to troops stationed overseas. National Penn Bank, the VFW Post 32 and MCHA have provided funding to cover the several hundreds of dollars of postage. Service men and women stationed overseas will receive not only a sweet “treat,” they will also get an original thank you card from a child. For many troops, the cards are more important than the candy – they’re a message of gratitude from home.

FOUNDATION’S INTEREST

The realm of “health” is much bigger than your annual visit to your primary care provider. Good oral and dental care is as essential to health as is good nutrition and regular physical activity. The foundation has long supported efforts to improve the oral health of the community; reduce obesity among school children and adults; and improve nutrition offered in schools, food pantries and through other community-based emergency and supplemental food providers.

The foundation works in collaboration with other funders, health care providers, public health entities, and the private sector on these issues. Foundation staff members are active participants on both the Montgomery County Oral Health Task Force (MCOH) and the Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) and the foundation is a member of the Delaware Valley Food Funders Affinity Group.