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Where Can You Donate Leftover Halloween Candy?

There are several local and national ways to get rid of that extra candy, from organizations that collect candy to ship to troops, to dentists that want to save kids teeth, to local hospitals and food pantries. 

How to Donate Halloween Candy to the Troops

1. Operation Shoebox

Operation Shoebox is perhaps the most famous of the organizations that collect and send care packages and donate Halloween candy to troops overseas. Operation Shoebox accepts individually wrapped candy all year, though it's good to note that heat-resistant candies are preferred. Guess you'd better eat those Snickers!

The address for where to ship your candy is on the website, and there's even a form to fill out and include if you'd like to receive a thank you and/or donation receipt. 

2. Halloween Candy Buyback Program with Troopathon

Participate in the Halloween Candy Buyback Program sponsored by Troopathon by collecting Halloween candy and sending it in. It's called a buyback program, but really, it's donating candy to be included in care packages for the troops. Last year, over 20,000 pounds of candy were collected and sent overseas.

You can also send any personal messages from kids who donate their candy, and the messages will be included with the candy in the care packages.

Donations are collected through the end of the year, but the organization recommends shipping between November 1-7. Look for local participating businesses or groups, or send in candy directly from your family, friends, and neighbors. Donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other hygienic products are also very welcome.

RELATED: Hilarious Halloween Jokes for Kids

Donate Halloween candy to troops through Soldiers' Angels Treats for Troops. Photo courtesy of Soldiers' Angels

3. Soldiers' Angels

Soldiers' Angels organizes Treats for Troops annually. Visit the candy map to find a Halloween candy donation drop-off point or register to start a drive of your own.

Do Food Pantries, Hospitals, and Shelters Accept Halloween Candy?

4. Ronald McDonald House Charities

The Ronald McDonald House helps keep severely ill kids and their parents together during treatment. While there is no universal candy donation program, many locations accept donations of unopened candy for the families they're helping after Halloween.

Visit the RMHC Chapter search page to locate your nearest House and inquire about the specifics for candy donations.

5. Think Local

Finally, don't forget about your local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, food pantry, retirement home, or nursing home when thinking of where to donate Halloween candy. Many take donations of unopened candy for residents and guests year-round. Be sure to call first to find out if they accept treats, which your kids can deliver with a note and a non-cavity-filled smile.

Can You Donate Halloween Candy to Dentists?

Check with your own dentist or a local dentist's office to see if they are participating in a "Sweet Swap," an idea which is very popular among many dentists. Dentists set their own rules and guidelines for swapping out excess candy for toothbrushes, stickers, small toys, and other rewards. There is no longer a centralized place where dentists advertise their candy buyback programs; the Hollywood Candy Buy Back website used to be a national repository where you could search for these programs by zip code, but the site now redirects candy donations to Troopathon.

What to Do With Extra Halloween Candy Besides Eating It

Here are 5 things to do with your extra candy, if you forget to donate it!

1. Pack the candy into a piñata or stuff it into goodie bags for your child’s upcoming birthday. Check out our step-by-step instructions for how to make a paper bag piñata!
2. Try a science experiment with your leftover Skittles! (Check out our how-to for a colorful Skittles science experiment for kids, here.)
3. Use leftover candy corn and waffle cones to make Candy Cornucopias as place settings for your Thanksgiving guests.
4. Give brightly colored candies a new home on a gingerbread house.
5. Set aside 24 pieces of candy to fill up a refillable Advent calendar. (Like the Christmas Advent Calendar Bags that are #9 on our list of the best Advent calendars for kids.)

FAQ – Donating Halloween Candy

Q: What organizations collect Halloween candy donations?

A: You've come to the right place, as we've gathered the best organizations right here. The biggest national organizations that collect Halloween candy donations are Operation Shoebox, Troopathon, and Soldiers' Angels.

Q: Can I donate homemade Halloween treats?

A: No, most places request that you only donate purchased, pre-wrapped goodies. This is because many donations are stored or shipped overseas and need a long shelf life. If you want to make homemade Halloween treats, try delivering them to your local firehouse or retirement community. They'll be much appreciated, especially if you have your kids help deliver the treats!

Q: Are there restrictions on what types of candy can be donated?

A: Yes. Check with the organization, but many request that you not donate chocolate, as it can melt into something that doesn't feel like a treat when being stored or shipped!

Q: How do I find local donation drop-off spots for candy?

A: Search locally! Use your favorite search engine or AI chatbot to search for "Halloween candy donations in <<location>>."

Q: Can I ship Halloween candy donations by mail?

A: Yes! Many organizations, like Operation Shoebox, Troopathon, and Sodliers' Angels, have instructions for shipping candy directly to the organization.

Note: Operation Gratitude is no longer accepting candy donations for the troops

Operation Gratitude has sent care packages to US troops stationed overseas and first responders stateside for years, collecting hundreds of thousands of pounds of candy annually. Though the candy donations were much appreciated, the organization found that the bulk shipments used to disperse tons of sweets were creating serious logistics bottlenecks for the units of service members and first responders.

Currently, the organization is transitioning to other ways of volunteering. If your kids enjoy giving to our troops, encourage them to write letters today!

This article was originally published in October 2013; it is updated annually.