One of the benefits of hosting a Halloween candy buy-back event is team building, and the opportunity to include every team member in the process. A team that has a positive attitude and enthusiasm will create a memorable event. The team can choose a date and organization to receive the donated c andy and volunteer for various tasks.
Getting the community aware of the event is a priority, as is gathering sponsorship early. Sponsors can contribute raffle prizes, items for goody bags, snacks, toothbrushes and posters. The team can design posters and banners with key information such as date, times, ages, prizes, activities available and promoting business sponsors. Place the posters around the community at least a month in advance with event information and list of sponsors. Sending emails, posting on Facebook, Instagram, your website and calling media for press releases a few weeks in advance is easy exposure for the event. Another inexpensive advertisement is flyers around the office and in take-home bags and having the team talk about it to patients.
The day of the event can be exciting and fun for the team and kids. Team members can be positioned around the office to greet new arrivals and others to guide them through the process of weighing candy, paying the children, handing out goody bags, helping fill out raffle tickets, distributing drinks and healthy snacks and organizing activities such as cards and drawings for military personnel. Be sure to have plenty of dollar bills available, you can decide how much you are willing to pay per pound and if you choose to have a maximum weight you are willing to pay.
The follow-up would include the assessing the number of attendees, the amount of candy to be shipped, boxing the candy according to regulations by the selected organization, thank you cards including photos to sponsors and notifying raffle prize winners. Finally, plan on a team celebration for a job well done and discussion of improvements for next year’s event.
WDA member dentist Dr. Mary Vezzetti and her team at Vezzetti Family Dental Care in Sussex have held a Halloween candy buy-back event for years.
