CandyCare’s 22nd Annual Halloween Candy Drive Now Underway

Charity Spotlight by Liz Burnett

Can you imagine never enjoying a candy bar? What if you never or rarely experienced those tasty treats that so easily also hold back a bit of hunger? Now imagine how candy bars might seem extra-enjoyable to homeless children and adults whose lives are often anything but sweet. That’s where the Delaware County outreach organization CandyCare comes in.

Every November, CandyCare collects leftover and unwanted Halloween candy and then distributes it all to local children, women, and men who are homeless, with only the shelters to provide them any food, clothes or beds.

Now in its 22nd year of leading this sweet undertaking, CandyCare is once again making its annual appeal for support from Delaware County residents who are willing to share some of their Halloween treats with others who are less fortunate.

With the 2018 candy collection: Patti and Gabrielle Bruno, Co-Founders of CandyCare; Rev. Father Christ Kontos, Pastor, St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church; Angelique Demetris, St. Luke Greek School Administrator; and students of St. Luke’s Greek School

Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Bruno, CandyCare

In 2018, CandyCare partnered with over 40 local organizations to give over 6,000 pounds of candy to local homeless shelters, ministries, nursing homes, and food pantries. This year, CandyCare is asking for help so they can top last year’s total candy collected and distributed.

Your donation of candy can be from what your family personally collected on Halloween and/or from your organized efforts to collect unwanted Halloween candy from friends and neighbors.

Drop off your donated candy at the Marple Library, 2599 Sproul Rd, Broomall, PA, by Monday, November 25.

No amount of candy is too small, but group donations are also encouraged as service projects for schools, churches, Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops, sports teams and social organizations.

For ideas and support of your candy collection drive, contact CandyCare’s Co-Founder Gabrielle Bruno at 610-505-4007.