Treats for troops: candy collection

Halloween, and the copious amounts of candy that comes with it, marks the beginning of a continuous stream of tempting foods from October to January. For the 9th year, the SAS Healthcare Center will be gathering excess Halloween candy to donate to NC Packs 4 Patriots, an organization that supports troops and their families by providing care and comfort items as well as expressions of appreciation for their service.

To date, SAS has donated 2,600 pounds of candy to our U.S. Military members near and far. We hope to raise the {chocolate} bar even higher this year and surpass previous years' records!

We encourage you to start your holiday season off right by getting those buckets of sugar out of your house!

SAS employees residing in the Cary, NC area: drop candy off at the SAS Healthcare Center November 1-5 to be donated to NC Packs 4 Patriots.

Non-SAS employees or SAS employees residing outside of Cary, NC: look into collection sites in your area through organizations such as Soldiers' Angels, Operation Gratitude and Halloween Candy Buy Back. You can also contact a local food pantry or homeless shelter to see if they can accept the sweet donations.

Start your holiday season off right by getting those buckets of sugar out of your house! #treatsfortroops #halloweencandy #saslife
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Food Allergy Inclusivity at Halloween

With 1 in 13 kids having food allergies, Halloween can be a tricky time for families managing food allergies. Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) launched the Teal Pumpkin Project in 2014 as a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about food allergies. It offers a safe alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as other kids for whom candy is not an option, so that Halloween can be a fun, positive experience for everyone!

This Halloween, join the Teal Pumpkin Project and add your house to the map to show some extra kindness to the kids you know. Pick up some non-food treats (doesn't have to be anything expensive - think stickers, glow sticks, washable tattoos and more!), and place a teal pumpkin (painted or purchased) and/or free printable sign on proud display outside your home to let people know that you have non-food treats available. You can, of course, still hand out candy if you like but how nice will it be to have a safe option that everyone can enjoy!

10 Treats Without the Sweets

Avoid candy overload while being allergen-friendly by giving out some festive, non-food treats. These can all be purchased online or at a local dollar, party supply or big-box store.

Glow Sticks

Bubbles

Stickers

Pencils, Erasers and/or Pencil Toppers

Play Dough

Spider Rings

Temporary Tattoos

Bouncy Balls

Vampire Teeth

Stampers