Pine Bluff-Kool Smiles dental office, 2801 S. Olive St., is coordinating Operation Troop Treats, a program that helps give kids’ teeth a post-Halloween break, while giving U.S. troops overseas a treat.
For the fifth year, Kool Smiles will allow children and their families to visit the local office from Friday, Oct. 28, through Saturday, Nov. 5, to exchange their Halloween candy for toys. The donated candy will be sent in care packages to U.S. service members overseas via Operation Gratitude.
“Good dental health is especially important around Halloween when there’s plenty of sugar-filled sweets floating about,” Kool Smiles Managing Dental Director Dr. Brad Bryan, said in a news release. “We want to make Trick-or-Treating fun – just without the cavities.”
Also, Kool Smiles is donating 200 dental care kits for service members stationed abroad, as well as the funds to cover the assembly and shipment of 200 care packages, the release said.
“This is a great way for local families to give back to our troops serving abroad, while also maintaining good dental habits at home during the Halloween season,” Bryan said.
Every child that comes in can receive one toy for every 25 pieces of unopened candy in its original packaging. The program is open to everyone, regardless of whether they are Kool Smiles patients. There is a limit of three toys per child and toys are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Details: http://www.mykoolsmiles.com/trooptreats or Kool Smiles Pine Bluff, 870-534-9917.