SF Students Collect Nearly 200 Pounds of Unwanted Halloween Candy

The following was submitted to Patch by Phil Ellingsworth, Jr., representing the Spring-Ford Area School District:

OAKS — Unwanted Halloween treats collected throughout November will soon have a new home with U.S. troops and local non-profits thanks to the efforts of Spring-Ford Area School District students and staff who joined together to promote healthy living during the eighth annual candy collection drive. Between the district’s elementary and secondary schools, almost 200 pounds of chocolate and other types of candy was collected.

Held from Nov. 1 to 24, Spring-Ford students and faculty members took part in the yearly candy drive that challenges them to collect unwanted Halloween sweets for U.S. military members serving overseas and Family Services of Montgomery County, while pushing district residents to live healthier, more productive lives.

Oaks Elementary School nurse Linda Ipri, coordinator of the candy drive, said collection bins were placed in the buildings during the month that allowed students and staff to drop off their uneatened Halloween candy, so it could be donated instead of going to waste.

“We got every kind of candy imaginable, even bags that appeared to be purchased just for donation purposes,” Ipri said.

The thought for a candy collection drive started several years ago at Oaks Elementary where Ipri had an idea to gather uneatened treats and give them to the troops to help brighten their day. From there, success of the initiative took off and spread to all of Spring-Ford’s elementary and secondary schools, where officials and students helped to make this year’s collection one of the most successful to date.

“It’s about taking time to remember those who are defending us on a daily basis,” Ipri said. “It really helps to put a smile on their faces.”

Some of the collected candy will be sent to military members serving overseas by the end of the week.

Spearheading the collection effort at the was student Griffin Raco, who collected more than 100 pounds of candy for a service project.

“Griffin’s efforts, in addition to the rest of our staff and students, made this an impressive collection,” Ipri said.