Island Harvest, Make-A-Wish Foundation and needy veterans benefit from Weiss & Luccarelli’s Halloween Candy Buy-Back
Mineola’s orthodontic practice of Weiss & Luccarelli has been hosting a Halloween Candy Buy-Back for the last 11 years. It all started with the doctors noticing broken brackets post-Halloween.
“We wanted to do something for the community and address the candy consumption,” shared office manager, Diane Gismervik.
Children from across Nassau County, including Rockville Centre, visited the office all day on November 1 to have their Halloween candy weighed, earning a dollar per pound and for every pound collected, Weiss & Luccarelli matched it dollar-for-dollar for a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Over 550 pounds of candy was collected resulting in a $1,100 donation to Make-A-Wish.
The buy-back has now morphed into a full blown charitable endeavor that has netted over $21,000, over the years, to Make-A-Wish and serves as an opportunity to help the needy.
The candy will be donated to Island Harvest, Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization, and to the upcoming Homeless Veterans Stand Down held at the Marine Base in Garden City on November 21. Over 300 attendees are expected at the Veterans Stand-Down where veterans will be treated to a hot Thanksgiving meal and have an opportunity to meet with federal, state and local agencies for assistance.
“Helping the veterans was a big draw this year,” said Luccarelli. “We are so proud of the kids, they give so willingly. It’s a real community event and giving back is what it’s all about.”
Kenneth English, Deputy Director of Emergency Services for the American Red Cross on Long Island appreciated the contribution.
“The veterans are going to love it,” said English. “I think they will be thrilled with the candy.”
“The kids have been so generous through the years and we are happy to provide this opportunity,” said Weiss. Seeing that candy go to a good cause versus over-consumption or waste is very gratifying. Then seeing how generous the kids are is another added bonus. It takes special kids to give their Halloween candy away.”
