Once Halloween night is over and the costumes are packed away, there’s one thing most of us still have way too much of candy. Whether you went trick-or-treating, helped hand out sweets, or just stocked up from the store, you probably have a big pile sitting around. While it’s fun to snack on for a few days, the excitement usually wears off fast. But instead of letting that candy sit around or go to waste, you can do something awesome with it donate it to people who could really use a smile.

All around the Pittsburgh area, local organizations and charities are collecting Halloween candy to give to others. One of the biggest efforts is the “Treats for Troops” program, run by Soldiers’ Angels. This national campaign gathers donated candy and ships it to U.S. service members and veterans across the country and overseas. The idea is to send them a sweet reminder of home and a message of appreciation. To find a drop-off site near Moon Township, you can visit soldiersangels.org.

Some local schools and community centers also hold their own candy drives. For example, schools in nearby districts like Mars and Cranberry have organized collections in the past, donating candy to shelters and outreach programs in Pittsburgh that support families experiencing homelessness. Even some fire departments and libraries in Western Pennsylvania collect leftover candy to use in community events or send to hospitals and nursing homes.

If you can’t find a donation drive near you, starting one is easier than you might think. You could talk to a teacher, student council advisor, or club leader about setting up a collection box at school. All you need is a decorated bin, a few flyers, and a short announcement to get your classmates involved. You could even turn it into a fun challenge between grades or homerooms to see who can collect the most candy.

Donating your leftover candy may seem like a small act, but it can make a huge difference to someone else. For a soldier stationed far from home, a bag of candy and a note of thanks can mean the world. For a family struggling to make ends meet, donated sweets can help make their kids’ day a little brighter. It’s an easy way to show kindness and keep the Halloween spirit alive long after October 31st.

So this year, before you toss that candy into a drawer or eat your tenth fun-size bar in a row, think about sharing the extra. Turning your leftover candy into something that helps others is the best kind of treat and a simple way to make your community a little sweeter.