Happy Halloween!

Bowl of candy? Check. Costume on? Check. Pumpkins carved? Check. Today is All Hallow’s Eve and what better day is there to dress up, go out, and overindulge on sugary sweets? However, take a few precautions before venturing out:

• If you have kids, don’t let them trick-or-treat without supervision.
• Don’t let your child eat candy that doesn’t come in a wrapper.
• Hold a flashlight when outside so drivers can see you.

But Halloween doesn’t have to be all about the sugar rush and crazy costumes. It can also be a very charitable day:

• Make cards of kindness.
• Some children are too ill to go out trick or treating. Make homemade Halloween cards for hospitalized children with life-threatening illnesses and mail to either Love Letters: Random Cards of Kindness (loveletterscares.org) or Hugs and Hope (hugsandhope.org).
• Many dentists’ officers participate in post-Halloween candy buybacks. Donated sweets are sent to organizations such as Operation Gratitude (operationgratitude.com) or Operation Shoebox (operationshoebox.com). Both organizations include the candy in care packages for US soldiers in harm’s way. Find a participating dental office near you at halloweencandybuyback.com.