Candy buyback gives sweets to the troops, while kids get cash

Second year of event for River Hills Dental

WINONA, Minn. — It’s always ironic when the dentist gives a child a sucker after a checkup.

Well, a dentist office in Winona is doing just the opposite and paying cash to do so.

River Hills Dental is holding its second-annual candy buyback program – paying a buck a pound to kids for their Halloween candy. That candy is then shipped overseas to American troops who are stationed abroad.

“People have really given us some great feedback about it,” dentist Courtney Dembiec said. “They like that, first of all, they can get all the candy out of their house after Halloween and the kids are motivated to get a few extra dollars and they get entered into a drawing to win an iPad Mini.”

Last year,  they collected nearly 500 pounds of candy. Less than 300 has come in so far this year. 

Kids need to be 12 or under to participate. River Hills Dental is located here. They’re closed on Fridays.