The buy back program is part of Operation Gratitude, based in California.
“We print up fliers and pass them out to the schools in our area,” Volck said. “We’ll decorate the inside of the office and give $1 for each pound of candy that the children bring in.”
About 200 children participate each year.
“We average 400 to 500 pounds of candy,” Volck said.
The community also gets involved with the program. According to Volck, some people “drive a fair distance” to drop off candy before Halloween.
“We notify businesses in the area and ask them if they want to be a part of it with us,” Volck said. “They donate the money we use toward the cost of handing out money to children or the shipping costs.”
Volck has been a dentist for 32 years and has served the Vandalia area since 1982. He has often supported the troops because his father served in World War II with the Army Air Corp, and his oldest brother was in the Air Force.
Volck wants the event to be a great time for the whole family. Parents can win gift certificates through a raffle.
“The kids will have a great time and we have all kinds of stuff for them to do,” Volck said. “Usually the Vandalia fire truck will be there. In the past we’ve also had a military Humvee. We give out a free toothbrush and it’s called a firefly toothbrush. It stays active for one minute to encourage the children to brush longer.”
Volck was inspired to participate in Operation Gratitude after he learned about it from another dentist.
“I thought that would be a really neat thing to do for the troops,” he said. “That’s the goal of the many people who donate; to make sure the troops get some recognition and appreciation.”
For more information, call 898-8990 or visit www.operationgratitude.com or www.tvolck.com.
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