Candy Is Dandy!

Kids may think that Halloween is the best holiday ever, but parents and dentists are often concerned about the effects of extreme candy consumption. Fortunately, there is a positive use for those extra sugary treats: an innovative “Halloween Candy Buy Back Program” sponsored by the national nonprofit organization Troopathon. Troopathon has been collecting surplus candy—some 30 tons every year—and sending special care packages to deployed troops across the globe.

The Sweet Idea Behind the Candy Buy Back Program

The program was born from a desire to support troops while promoting healthier habits at home.

“Troopathon was founded to provide heartfelt support to our deployed troops through care packages, a mission born from a desire to show our service members they’re not forgotten,” explains Scott Raab, Troopathon’s operations director. “The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program was sparked by Dr. Chris Kammer, a visionary dentist who launched it in 2005. He saw an opportunity to reduce excess Halloween candy consumption among kids while sending those treats to troops overseas as a thank-you.”

Troopathon partnered with Dr. Kammer to handle the logistics of collecting and shipping the candy to troops in combat zones. What started small has grown into a national phenomenon, with families, schools, and businesses sending over 30 tons of candy each year.

A Veteran's Mission: The Heart of the Program

Raab himself knows how much these care packages mean. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, he served five years as an intelligence analyst and deployed with the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan strike group in 2006.

“As a service-connected OEF/OIF veteran, I know firsthand the challenges of deployment and the lifeline that care packages provide,” he recalls. “I still have the personal messages I received in my two care packages in my seabag upstairs at home right now. I read those letters hundreds of times and they are a constant reminder that I was never forgotten. That feeling is hard to describe and meant everything.”

This personal experience fuels his passion for the mission, ensuring every package carries a vital connection back home. The most impactful part, he notes, are the personal messages from donors that show troops they are cared for and remembered.

How to Participate and Send Your Support

Anyone—families, schools, and businesses—can participate by shipping donations. Along with candy, Troopathon requests hygiene items like toothbrushes and personal messages.

• For small boxes and mailers: Troopathon Operation Center 3105 Fite Circle, Suite 108 Sacramento, CA 95827
• For larger, pallet-sized shipments: The Warehouse 850 Gray Ave Yuba City, CA 95991

“Our army of volunteers sorts and packs these donations into care packages, ensuring every item and heartfelt note reaches our troops,” Raab says. “Through social media outreach (@Troopathon, #HalloweenCandyBuyBack) and community events, we make it easy for everyone to join in.”

More Than Just Candy: A Year-Round Mission

Troopathon receives 5,000 to 10,000 requests for care packages from military families year-round. The candy helps make each box a little sweeter, but the need for support is constant.

As a 501(c)(3) charity, Troopathon is funded through tax-deductible donations. Recurring monthly donors are especially crucial.

“Recurring donors who give monthly ensure we can send care packages to deployed service members every single day, keeping their spirits high no matter where they are,” Raab remarks. “Every act of support – big or small, from donating candy to crafting a heartfelt note – makes a difference for our military and their families.”

To donate, volunteer, or send a message of gratitude, please visit troopathon.org.

Making a Difference

Troopathon Operations Director Scott Raab points out that the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program has a profound impact, both for deployed service members and for volunteers at home.

“In our first year, a Marine on the other side of the planet, thousands of miles away from everything he knows and loves, along with his squad huddled around a care package they received,” Raab relates. “Each Marine with him got one piece of the donated candy, and each got to read the handwritten letter the kids who donated the candy wrote... That moment didn’t just lift one Marine – it lifted his whole unit. It connects our troops back to home no matter how far away they are.”

Raab also recalls a young man who came to the volunteer center carrying the triangle-shaped box holding an American flag that was flown in Troopathon’s honor over Afghanistan.

“He said it was only days after the second member of their Special Operations Task Force was killed that our boxes started to arrive,” Raab continues. “He said to get that, at that time, meant so much to him and everyone else... I have that flag and certificate proudly displayed so I see it every day. I remember the real reason why we are thankful and do what we do... There is never enough being done for our troops, never enough done by anyone to repay those families who gave everything for us.”