Lincoln dentist buying back Halloween candy to send to troops overseas
Candy is just about every kid’s favorite part of Halloween.
But a Lincoln dentist has kiddos giving up their treats for the troops.
For the last six years, Dr. Marty Killeen, the dentist at wilderness station pediatric dentistry, that’s near 14th and Yankee Hill, has bought back candy the week after Halloween.
“We team up with operation gratitude and we send it overseas to soldiers, troops serving there as well as first responders in the United States,” Dr. Marty Killeen, with Wilderness Station said.
Last year they collected more than 500–pounds of sweet treats, and it all started with a worry for his own children’s health.
“After Halloween I would come up with dilemma of my kids having a lot of candy,” Killeen said. “I thought what better way to help parents get candy out of kids hand than to help the troops?”
He gives donors $1 for every pound of candy they bring in.
“There’s even some kids that will write a card or message for those that are serving and stick it in with their candy so the folks that are serving get a message with their candy,” Killeen said.
He said they hope to beat their record of 500 pounds this year, and it looks like that will happen, as by lunchtime on Thursday they already had 50 pounds.
Wilderness Station is located near 14th and Yankee Hill.
You can drop off candy until Tuesday while the office is open.
Friday they are open from 8:00 a.m. until noon.
Monday and Tuesday they are open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
