After trick-or-treating, your home may be swimming in more candy than your family can handle. Instead of throwing away the surplus — or storing it somewhere to grow stale over the next six months — you can bring it to candy buy-backs or donation centers in Northern Virginia. Here are some businesses in the area that will accept Halloween candy in exchange for cash, toys, or will donate the sweets to others.
Toys for Treats at The Toy Nest
Through November 9
One of the biggest candy buy-backs in the area is at The Toy Nest in Falls Church. This lending library for toys will accept donations of candy through November 9. For every pound of candy, kids can borrow one point’s worth of toys, valued at about $15 to $20 per point. Non-members can borrow the toys for one week, and members can borrow the toys for two weeks. The candy will be donated to workers at the Falls Church Public Works Operations Department, who collect leaves, plow snow, clean up after storms, and maintain city vehicles and infrastructure. 125 N. Washington St., Falls Church
Northern Virginia and DC Candy Buy Back
Through November 15
To protect kids’ teeth from excessive sugar, VK Pediatric Dentistry in Arlington will host its annual candy buy-back. For the first two weeks in November, VK will offer $1 per pound of candy turned in, up to 5 pounds. You can even win an extra prize if you go in wearing a costume! The candy will be “donated to a good cause,” it says. 5001 Langston Blvd., Arlington
Treats for Troops
You can also opt to donate your extra candy at a drop-off location for Treats for Troops, an initiative led by the nonprofit organization Soldiers’ Angels. Area businesses set up donation centers to collect candy from the community, then ship it to VA hospitals, military installations, and guard/reserve units. Check the map to find donation centers accepting candy near you.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Family newsletter.
