We love November at Willes Orthodontics!
Our annual Halloween Candy Buy-Back event kicked off the month. We invited local children to trade in their sugary, sticky, gooey candy for cash. We offered $2 per pound for the candy, and partnering schools received a matching $2 per pound. Each child also received a goodie bag filled with a toothbrush, color-changing pencil, magnet, stickers, and puzzles.
It was so gratifying watching cute kids arrive with their trick-or-treat bags, eagerly pouring their candy into the big bowl on the scale. Their intense focus as they watched the scale and their wide-eyed excitement as Dr. Willes counted cash into their hands was priceless. (Occasionally, Dr. Willes would even perform a magic trick to entertain the kids during breaks in the action.)
Our Candy Buy-Back has been a part of many families’ Halloween traditions for years, and it’s heartwarming to see the growth and changes in the kids from year-to-year.
This year, we collected over 250 pounds of candy—that’s a lot of candy!! We donate the candy to a local charity that uses it for holiday parties, meals, and activities for families in need and children of incarcerated parents. (So that 250 pounds is spread around to be shared in much smaller portions, to cheer many more kids.) The charity is always grateful for this unique donation, which adds a special touch to their festivities and brightens the holidays for kids facing difficult times. (Of course, we also donate dozens of toothbrushes, too.)
Continuing the spirit of sharing and gratitude in November, we have our annual “Giving Thanks” tree displayed in the office for the month.
Patients and families are encouraged to “leaf” a note about something they are thankful for. We share these heartwarming sentiments on social media throughout the month. Then, a few days before Thanksgiving, we randomly select a leaf, and the author wins a delicious pumpkin pie from our local pie shop. We also welcome thankful comments on our social media platforms.
These small, simple gestures bring us joy, and we hope they help spread happiness to others during the holiday season, too.