By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

It’s always common to have plenty of leftover candy after Halloween. Instead of snacking on candy for months after Halloween, children have the opportunity to donate their candy and be rewarded with cash.

Wood Orthodontics and Children’s Dentistry of Central Alabama are hosting its fourth annual Candy Buy Back from Monday, Nov. 2 to Thursday, Nov. 5. The contest is open to children aged 2 to 14 who are accompanied by an adult, and the candy can be brought to Wood Orthodontics or Children’s Dentistry.

“For each pound that they bring in to us, we give them a dollar,” said Wood Orthodontics treatment coordinator Savannah Lowe.

Children can earn up to five dollars for the first five pounds of candy they donate.

The school that donates the most candy wins $500 dollars for its Parent Teacher Association. The classroom that donates the most candy wins a pizza and ice cream party.

Last year, J.E. Terry Elementary won first prize for donating the most candy, and a second grade classroom from Morgan Academy won the pizza and ice cream party.

The candy is donated to the troops overseas.

“We take the candy that we get from the children and we ship it to soldiers with toothbrushes and toothpaste,” Lowe said.

Lowe said roughly 100 children donated candy last year. She is hoping for even more children to show support this year.

The candy can be donated to Wood Orthodontics from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Children’s Dentistry of Central Alabama from 7:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday following Halloween.