Thursday, November 30, 2006
Halloween Candy Buy Back Contest Weighs in for the Troops--Winners Announced
How much Halloween candy were children willing to give up? Evidently a lot. Contestants in annual “Halloween Candy Buy Back Contest” brought in 385 pounds of candy in just six days! Dr. Ron Rotem, a dentist at 355 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, who sponsors this event annually paid the children $1.00 a pound up to 10 lbs. per family for their Halloween candy, and also offered to give $50.00 gift card to the individual and $400.00 to the teacher who donated the most candy. All the candy was sent to the troops overseas through International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 400, Wall Township.
Dr. Rotem whose own children are ages 5, 7 and 8, says, “It’s a challenge to get kids to give up candy. Giving them money gives them some incentive and at the same time instills a sense of civic duty and community involvement. I think parents were happy to get rid of the candy. A lot of people didn’t want the money—they were happy that the candy was going to our troops overseas.”
Shirley and Joseph C. Andrews, Bayville, who brought in candy for the troops, couldn’t agree more. Their grandson Christopher William Andrews, who serves in the U.S. Army, had just returned from Kuwait. “Christopher loved getting packages from home,” said Shirley Andrews. “Everybody should send something. People don’t know how fortunate they are.”
Ms. Jacqueline Citta and her student teacher Susan Schlueter, Beachwood Elementary School, brought in 75 lbs. of candy and won $400.00 to use for their class of fifth graders. Brian, Matthew, and Billy MacNab, Toms River, collected 22 lbs. of candy and won a $50.00 gift card for their efforts. Citta said, “We are planning to use the money for technology, an interactive Jeopardy computer game. The children are very excited.”
For further information, call Dr. Rotem’s office at 732-341-8500.
Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises
Dr. Rotem whose own children are ages 5, 7 and 8, says, “It’s a challenge to get kids to give up candy. Giving them money gives them some incentive and at the same time instills a sense of civic duty and community involvement. I think parents were happy to get rid of the candy. A lot of people didn’t want the money—they were happy that the candy was going to our troops overseas.”
Shirley and Joseph C. Andrews, Bayville, who brought in candy for the troops, couldn’t agree more. Their grandson Christopher William Andrews, who serves in the U.S. Army, had just returned from Kuwait. “Christopher loved getting packages from home,” said Shirley Andrews. “Everybody should send something. People don’t know how fortunate they are.”
Ms. Jacqueline Citta and her student teacher Susan Schlueter, Beachwood Elementary School, brought in 75 lbs. of candy and won $400.00 to use for their class of fifth graders. Brian, Matthew, and Billy MacNab, Toms River, collected 22 lbs. of candy and won a $50.00 gift card for their efforts. Citta said, “We are planning to use the money for technology, an interactive Jeopardy computer game. The children are very excited.”
For further information, call Dr. Rotem’s office at 732-341-8500.
Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises
