Donate Your Extra Candy

The trick-or-treaters have come and gone, but you've still got bowls filled with candy. One way to get the sweets out of the house is to donate them.

But before dropping off any candy at local shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries, call to make sure they accept it.

All candy being donated should be in the original wrapper.

Ronald McDonald House Charities, which includes a program that provides housing for parents of children staying in nearby hospitals, accepts candy donations.

Policies vary by location. Visit rmhc.org for more information.

Another option is Operation Shoebox, which sends care packages and letters to U.S. troops stationed abroad.

"Candy is one of the main items we ship to the troops and they use it to pass out to the children they come in contact with or share it among themselves," says Mary Harper, founder and president of Operation Shoebox.

The organization accepts all types of candy. But since the candy is traveling long distances to a warmer climate, hard and heat-resistant candies work best.

Go to operationshoebox.com for packing and mailing instructions, including information on how to get free flat-rate Priority Mail boxes from the post office.