Children and families in South Carolina will have a chance to exchange Halloween candy for toys and send deployed U.S. troops a "sweet" reminder of home this holiday season during Operation Troop Treats, an annual candy exchange hosted by the local Kool Smiles dental offices in partnership with Operation Gratitude.
Dr. Diane Earle is Managing Dental Director for Kool Smiles, she said Operation Troop Treat was created six years ago to promote healthy dental habits during Halloween.
"Many of our Kool Smiles patient-families and employees are current or former service members, so this is a small way for us to share a smile with our troops and say thank you to those who sacrifice so much to ensure our safety and security."
In addition to the candy shipment, 200 dental care kits and the funds to cover the assembly and shipment of 200 Operation Gratitude care packages are also donated. Each care package is filled with letters of appreciation, food, entertainment and hygiene items, and other sweet reminders of home.
The South Carolina Kool Smiles offices are participating from Saturday, Oct. 28, through Saturday, Nov. 4, during regular office hours. 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.
2017 Troop Treats Locations
- Kool Smiles Columbia, 5422 Forest Dr., Columbia. (803) 753-1160.
- Kool Smiles Sumter, 1121 Broad St., Sumter. (803) 436-5640.
- Kool Smiles Orangeburg, 1350 Grove Park Drive, Orangeburg. (803) 387-0682.
- Kool Smiles Greenville-Blue Ridge – 3227 W. Blue Ridge Drive, Greenville. (864) 295-8888.
- Kool Smiles Greenville-Mills Ave – 3 K Mart Plaza, Greenville. (864) 236-4770.
- Kool Smiles Anderson-Main Street – 3112 N. Main Street, Anderson. (864) 716-2118.
- Kool Smiles Anderson SR 28 – 629 Hwy 28 Truck, Anderson. (864) 202-4884.
- Kool Smiles Rock Hill - 2349 Cherry Road STE 49, Rock Hill. (803) 619-9077.