If there’s one thing most parents agree on, it’s that too much of a good thing can turn bad…as in, “I can’t believe how much candy my kids collected while out trick-or-treating!” If you find that to be the case at your house, a local chiropractic clinic is reprising their annual Halloween Candy Give Back for Operation Gratitude.
Fully Alive Family Chiropractic at 2600 Lincoln Avenue has offered up the opportunity for families in the region to shed some of the excess candy in support of troops, thereby letting the kids enjoy the holiday but also avoid the risk of unhealthy volumes of sugar intake in the days following Halloween.
Dr. Tara Scharich owns and operates the clinic just off the intersection of Lincoln and Niles in St. Joseph Charter Township. She says, “We want to help our kids enjoy Halloween by trick or treating and not become diabetic or filled with cavities or be unable to focus in school as a result. So we are part of Operation Gratitude again and a drop off for candy and supplies for our troops and veterans.”
Dr. Scharich calls it a win-win proposition because it helps kids enjoy the tradition of Halloween Trick-or-Treating, but also keeps them from devouring everything they acquire by sharing it with the military, sending it to them on the front lines.
She says, “Our practice is dedicated to families living fully alive and we are doing our annual candy give back, inviting kids, schools and businesses to be part of it.”
She has added a school challenge element to the Candy Give Back this year to create a little competition to see which local school can get the most kids involved dropping off candy at the Fully Alive office, with the winning school earning a traveling trophy and “bragging rights.” She dispatched a video to local school principals encouraging each school’s participation in the campaign.
Over the last several years the clinic has managed to collect around 250 pounds of candy per year, but she’s hopeful of doubling that to 500 pounds this year ready to ship to Operation Gratitude organizers from the military.
Dr. Scharich adds, “We are also inviting individuals and local businesses who want to be part of this great charity to spread the word and if they want to help donations of any amount to the shipment, that will be greatly appreciated and helpful and we will acknowledge their generosity.” They are also accepting travel sizes of toothpaste, dental floss, pens and mechanical pencils to share with the troops.
Drop-off dates for the Halloween Candy Give Back for Operation Gratitude are Thursday, November 1st from 4 until 6pm and Friday, November 2nd from noon until 2pm. Questions can be answered by calling 269-556-9654.
