A sweet partnership between Munson Healthcare and the Northern Michigan Diabetes Initiative offers parents a lifesaver – the chance to donate leftover or excess Halloween candy to a worthy cause.
Now in its seventh year, the Candy Takeback program adds eight new drop-off options, for a total of 19 takeback locations throughout eight northern Michigan counties. Nov. 1 - 5, parents and their trick-or-treaters can drop off any unwanted or excess candy, which is then donated to both overseas troops and local veterans.
In 2018, 838.59 pounds of candy were collected and dispersed.
While the Candy Takeback program is a win-win for all, it might not initially seem that way to trick-or-treaters. Munson Community Health Coordinator Tara Rybicki, MS, RDN, CDE, encourages parents to fully engage their children when it comes to managing Halloween treats and striking a balance between enjoyment and excess.
“Allowing children to play a key role teaches them the skill of eating candy in moderation. Over-restriction can actually lead to over-consumption,” she said. “In my own home, I let my children take ownership of their candy after trick or treating. But I also discuss the art of savoring the candy and eating it mindfully as that only enhances the satisfaction of eating it. The next day they choose their favorites to keep, and we participate in the Candy Takeback program with the rest.”
Even the donation process is designed to encourage enjoying sweets in smaller amounts, according to Northern Michigan Diabetes Initiative Coordinator Kim Chandler.
“After the candy is collected, local veteran agencies sort the chocolate from the non-chocolate candy. Non-chocolate candy gets packaged and sent overseas and chocolate candy is distributed to several local veteran agencies to be used at special meetings and events throughout the year,” she said. “No one agency ends up with a large quantity of candy, which again reinforces the idea of moderation when it comes to consumption of sweets.”
Select sites are participating in raffles and swag to help reward children for their generosity. Specific candy drop-off times and locations can be found below:
Antrim County
Cherryland Middle School
707 E Third Street
Elk Rapids
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
*for school staff and students only
Charlevoix County
Charlevoix Wellness Workshop
411 Bridge Street
Charlevoix
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Crawford County
District Health Department #10
501 Norway Street
Grayling
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m
Viking Wellness Center
Grayling High School – Room C309
1135 North Old US 27
Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
*for school staff and students only
Grand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County Health Department
2600 LaFranier Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
8:30 a.m. -4 p.m.
Munson Community Health Library
Foster Family Community Health Center
550 Munson Ave
Traverse City
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Munson Diabetes Education
Munson Professional Building Room 210
1221 Sixth Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
YMCA - Central
1213 W Civic Center Drive
Traverse City, MI 49686
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
5:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
YMCA - South
3000 Racquet Club Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
YMCA - West
3700 Silver Lake Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
5:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Kalkaska County
District Health Department #10
625 Courthouse Drive
Kalkaska, MI 49646
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Kalkaska Senior Center
303 S Coral Street
Kalkaska, MI 49646
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Manistee County
Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital
Hospital Registration Desk
1465 E Parkdale Ave
Manistee
Fri, Nov. 1 - Tues, Nov. 5
Anytime
Manistee Health & Fitness Center
1345 E Parkdale Ave
Manistee
Fri, Nov. 1, 5:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. - noon
Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5, 5:30 a.m. - 8 p.m
Otsego County
Gaylord Blue Devils Wellness Center
Gaylord High School
90 Livingston Blvd
Gaylord
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
*for school staff and students only
Wexford County
Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital
7917 Mackinaw Trail
Cadillac
Thurs, Nov. 1 - Fri, Nov. 2
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
District Health Department #10
521 Cobb Street
Cadillac
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cadillac Area YMCA
9845 Campus Drive
Cadillac
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sat, Nov. 2, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 3, noon - 8 p.m.
Wexford Adolescent Wellness Center
Cadillac Junior High
500 Chestnut Street
Cadillac
Fri, Nov. 1 and Mon, Nov. 4 - Tues, Nov. 5,
7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m.
*for school staff and students only
Raffles and swag vary by location. For more details, along with a list of healthy Halloween alternatives for candy passer-outers, visit nmdi.org/candytakeback.
For questions or more information, call 231-935-9255.