Treats 4 Our Troops: Pay it Forward with Extra Halloween Candy

Too much candy?

In 2007, Yael Israel decided to start sending extra Halloween treats overseas to a friend who was stationed in Iraq. Thousands of pounds of candy later, Israel's Treats 4 Our Troops has grown into a national effort where local community groups, schools and businesses collect candy and send their own care packages.

"It seemed like if we could pay it forward to the troops with what we had, then why not?" Israel told Patch. "And at this point, it's gotten such a warm response from the troops, I'll keep doing it as long as I can."

A typical care package includes a few magazines, 13-or-so pounds of candy and some cards and notes. Flat-rate shipping is just under $15. Treats 4 Our Troops provides the collection and shipping guidelines and addresses.

Israel works with several local groups personally, and she makes deliveries of surplus holiday candy to wounded warriors at Walter Reed every week and at Fort Belvoir every month.

At first, Israel collected all of the candy herself — from friends, from neighbors and, soon, from strangers. Two years ago, she found herself moving 10,000 pounds of candy through her living room.

"I literally couldn't move it out fast enough, or distribute it to the hospitals and USO," she said.

So Treats 4 Our Troops began providing guidelines for local groups to host their own collections.

The first year under the new model saw 8,000 pounds of candy go overseas. Israel is aiming to get that back to 10,000 this year.

The YMCA in Arlington is collecting, she said. So is the Corporate Executive Board in Rosslyn, Falls Properties in Falls Church and the Howard University Law School, not to mention several Girl Scout troops and elementary schools, among many others in the greater Washington area.

Most of the program's participants are in Northern Virginia. 

Israel always encourages people to only donate their extra candy. If they're going to spend money, spend it on postage, she said.

Oftentimes, the troops respond — sometimes with a card or a note. One group received a flag that was flown over their recipient's base in Afghanistan.

"It's a nice way to connect everybody," Israel said.

To learn more or for contact information, visit Treats 4 Our Troops' Facebook page.