Local Orthodontist Makes National Halloween Candy Buy Back Top Priority for 11th Straight Year with Operation Gratitude!

Gaithersburg, MD - One area orthodontist encourages his patients to do more than just trick or treat on Halloween. Dr. Gordon S. Groisser of Village Orthodontics, with offices in Clarksburg, Gaithersburg and Hagerstown, MD, believes Halloween is a time to give back to those that serve…with OPERATION GRATITUDE!

OPERATION GRATITUDE is a national effort based in California that provides an opportunity for members of the military deployed overseas to receive some warm thoughts and well wishes from “home” in the form of care packages: sweet treats, along with toothbrushes, toothpaste and signed cards from those that donate.

Each year, Dr. Groisser and his Team at Village Orthodontics collect candy from community kids in exchange for $1 per pound. Since 2004, Dr. Groisser has collected over 3500 pounds of candy for the troops. Initially, his donations were sent to the troops overseas via the Red Cross, but since 2012, Dr. Groisser has joined forces with the National organization: Operation Gratitude and has since seen his donations skyrocket!

“Visiting your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, but doing away with that sticky, chewy, sugary stuff will really help keep your smile healthy, reduce decay and keep your braces intact,” says DrG – the nickname his patients affectionately gave him. “It is amazing to see the outpouring of gratitude from our patients and their families. Many kids arrive with homemade cards and letters for the troops and refuse to receive money for their candy. They simply want to say ‘thank you’.”

With an average of 350 pounds of candy, letters and toothbrushes per year, Dr. Groisser, his wife and office manager, Patricia, their three daughters Kailyn, Kara and Kendyl along with the entire Village Orthodontics’ team, package up all the treats, letters and toothbrushes! Dr. Groisser covers the shipping costs to send these cartons off to Operation Gratitude’s headquarters in California. Operation Gratitude then creates personalized care packages sent to troops deployed overseas as well as first responders here at home!

This year, Dr. Groisser will be offering candy collections in CLARKSBURG on Monday, November 2nd , Tuesday, November 3rd, and Wednesday, November 4th from 8am-5pm; GAITHERSBURG on Monday, November 2nd and Wednesday, November 4th from 8am-5pm, and HAGERSTOWN on Tuesday, November, 3rd and Thursday, November 5th from 8am-5pm.

Candy must be received wrapped and unopened. Cards, letters, toothbrushes and toothpaste are also welcome! Dr. Groisser will then ship all donations to Operation Gratitude where they will subsequently be forwarded as care packages to the troops and first responders.

Gordon S. Groisser, DDS, MSD is an orthodontist serving the needs of children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Groisser has been practicing in Gaithersburg since 2003. Dr. Groisser is available to provide more information at 301-869-4242, info@drgbraces.com or visit his website: www.DrGBraces.com.