South Bend dentist gives cash for candy

By Diane Daniels (ddaniels@wsbt.com)

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Dr. David Fishbaugh of North Point Pediatric Dentistry in South Bend is in his 4th year of exchanging kids' Halloween candy for cash.

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Nov 3, 2009 at 1:27 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2009 at 2:14 PM EST

It may not be quite like "Cash for Clunkers," but "Cash for Candy" is turning Halloween treats in Michiana into cash. A number of local dentists are offering to pay kids by the pound for turning in their candy.

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Dr. David Fishbaugh of North Point Pediatric Dentistry in South Bend has been offering a program like this for four years now. He pays kids $2 per pound for the candy they turn in. By mid-day Monday his office had already collected nearly 100 pounds of candy. By the end of the collection period on Thursday, Fishbaugh expects his practice will easily collect 700 to 800 pounds of candy.

As a dentist, his motivation is simple. He wants to keep cavity-producing candy out of kid’s mouths. He says he actually got the idea to start offering the program four years ago when he was bargaining with his son to get him to give up his candy. The first year his dental practice offered the program, they paid $1 per pound of candy. But Fishbaugh says after that, they upped the ante to $2 per pound.

"You have to cover people's gas money," Fishbaugh says, explaining his effort to make it worth the drive to participate.

Kids are paid in single $1 bills. He says kids love leaving with a "wad of cash."

Fishbaugh admits that the adults who work in his office do partake in some "sampling" of the candy before it is all said and done. After that, they sort through it. They separate the hard candy from the chocolate, which Fishbaugh calls, "...a laborious process." The hard candy is typically sent to the troops overseas. The chocolate candy is given to a local charity. Last year it was given to the Center for the Homeless.

Candy can be turned in from 8am-5pm through Thurs., Nov. 5th at the office at 16597 State Rd. 23 in South Bend.

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