Teaching children the value of giving back by donating Halloween candy in support of Operation Gratitude and Operation Made is a win-win for kids, and parents.

This Halloween, local trick-or-treaters will join kids across the country when they donate their extra Halloween candy to Operation Gratitude at local collection site: Operation Made. The sweet treats will be included along with handwritten thank you letters in Care Packages sent to U.S. Service Members deployed overseas, and hand delivered to Veterans and First Responders serving in their local communities.

Americans spend an estimated $2.5 billion on a whopping 600 million pounds of Halloween candy each year. In 2018, more than 440,000 pounds of candy was donated to Operation Gratitude and distributed to America's heroes in signature Operation Gratitude Care Packages and local deliveries around the country.

"Operation Gratitude's mission is to thank all who serve, forging strong bonds between grateful Americans and the heroes who serve and protect them," according to Kevin Schmiegel, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC (Ret.) and CEO of Operation Gratitude. "The Halloween Candy Give-Back Program provides every American child the opportunity to learn about service, sacrifice and generosity."

Candy and handwritten thank you letters for deployed service members, veterans, and first responders will be collected at Operation Made located at 1060 Toll Gate Rd, Warwick from Nov. 1 through Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.operationgratitude.com/express-your-thanks/halloween-candy to learn more.

Demonstrating that actions speak louder than words, Operation Made is a local gift shop that provides tangible ways for the community to support local military veterans and local military families through shopping a curated gift boutique. Operation Made sells one of a kind gifts and home decor exclusively made by veterans and military families. On Veteran's Day in 2018, Operation Made opened its doors with the goal of encouraging entrepreneurship within the military community. Operation Made helps Service Members, their families, and Veterans to launch their product based businesses. 70 percent of Operation Made's profits go directly back to local veterans and their families.