In one Halloween buy-back, a local dentist collected more than 100 pounds of candy off the streets and into care packages for U.S. troops overseas.

Ole Brook Pediatric Dentistry held a Halloween candy buy-back on Monday, where the office asked children to donate some of their Halloween candy. In return, they received a coupon for a free Blizzard, courtesy of Dairy Queen. For every pound that was given, up to five pounds, kids got one entry for a drawing to win a new bike. Participants also wrote letters and drew pictures for care package recipients expressing thanks for their service.

The effort was an extension of Operation Gratitude, an organization established in 2003 that sends care packages to new recruits, first responders, wounded warriors, caregivers and individually named U.S. service members overseas. Each year the organization sends more than 150,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items and letters of appreciation, according to its website.

This is the second year Dr. Joey Sessums at Ole Brook Pediatric Dentistry has organized a candy buy-back. Sessums said the program can teach children about giving, while being good for teeth and the troops.

“Like these little girls, their uncle is over there,” Sessums said. “So I think it’s something the kids can learn from too. They’re getting something in return but they’re giving what they got to help somebody else, to give to somebody else. It’s a good lesson for them and then obviously, from a dental standpoint, we don’t need all the candy.”

This year’s winner was Collin Holmes. For more information about Operation Gratitude visit www.operationgratitude.com.