Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars picked up the candy collected at Ames and CASS in a Humvee and took it to Bangor International Airport.
The generosity of RSU 20 school children is likely making the holidays sweeter for a number of active duty military personnel. The students collected more than a quarter ton of candy to be forwarded to the troops.
Students from Ames Elementary in Searsmont, Captain Albert Stevens School (CASS) in Belfast, Drinkwater School in Northport, East Belfast, and Searsport Elementary School participated in the 2013 Halloween Candy Challenge.
The candy collected at Ames (208 pounds) and CASS (137 pounds) were picked up by members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in a Humvee and were delivered to the Troop Greeters at Bangor International Airport. They, in a joint effort with the airport, University of Maine staff and numerous volunteers, put the candy in care packages they were sending to deployed troops overseas.
Students in the afterschool program at Searsport Elementary School oversaw the candy collection and used it as a math project.
The remaining candy (220 pounds) was mailed by Waldo County General Hospital to Operation Gratitude in California, who annually sends 100,000 care packages to troops overseas.
The classes, who collected the most candy at each school, earned an extra recess.
The Searsport Elementary School afterschool program oversaw the project, using it as a math lesson.
Linda Hartkopf, the School Health Coordinator employed by Waldo County General Hospital, was the leader behind the project.