Kool Smiles treats for troops

Kool Smiles Dentistry is doing more than just cleaning your kid's teeth after Halloween
this year; they take some of that loot and give it to Operation Gratitude and The
Battalion Buddies which sends care packages to soldiers and their families.
Regional Dental Director D Ray Gifford is happy to help.

"This is an opportunity for us to be able to give back to them, at least to a small degree
for the sacrifices they are making for us. And I'm really happy to do that it's a very little
sacrifice on our part and it really doesn't equal what they're doing but it's a small way we
can say thank you".

Some kids weren't ready to give up their hard earned candy but they got a
different kind of treat in return.

"Any child that wants to come in to one of our Kool Smiles locations here in Lubbock,
they'll bring in 25 pieces of unopened candy, they can exchange those 25 pieces for a toy,
up to 3 toys".

Kool Smiles is also donating toothbrushes and toothpaste for the care packages and kids
had a chance to start the Thanksgiving season by giving back as well.

"If any child wants to donate their toy instead of keeping their toy those toys as well will
go to the children".

This is the first year Kool Smiles is donating to Operation Gratitude but they felt like
they were getting the better end of the deal.

"Whether we get a response back though is really inconsequential. We aren't doing this to
get a thank you from them we are doing this to tell them thank you"