After a night of trick-or-treating, 7-year-old Daniel Muchnick gave all of his candy to a dentist Wednesday.
“I didn’t eat any of it,” he said, standing in the offices of Lozano Dental Care, one of many local dental offices asking children to donate their candy at $1 a pound.
The candy — unbeknownst to Muchnick, despite three years of participating — will then be shipped via care package to active military service members from Alachua County, sparing the kids from cavities in the process, owner Frank Lozano said.
The office has participated in the buy back for the past eight years after Lozano got the idea from a dentist in Madison, Wisconsin. He figured donating sweets through the Alachua County Military Support Group was a worthwhile cause.
“I thought we should benefit people in Alachua County,” he said. “(The support group was) more than happy to have us donate to their group.”
Lozano, 37, said his practice isn’t the only dentistry participating in this event in Gainesville. Others include Giggles and Grins Pediatric Dentistry and Progressive Orthodontists, which is owned by Lozano’s sister.
At Kids Only Dental Place, located at Haile Plantation, seven kids had donated 13 pounds of candy as of Tuesday afternoon, said Debbie Barry, a receptionist at the dental office.
Office manager Stacey Givens said the two Kids Only Dental Place locations average between 200 to 400 pounds of candy each Halloween season.
“They’re excited to do the right thing and earn some money,” Barry said. “They’re helping save their own teeth and helping the troops. It’s very rewarding to see.”
