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Carlstadt Class Collects 87 Pounds Of Candy For Troops Overseas

CARLSTADT, N.J. -- Fourth-grade students collected and donated 87 pounds of Halloween candy in one day to send to overseas troops.

Pictured: Gavin Stallone, Liana Villalobos, Giuliana Diaz with fourth grade teacher Maura Barrett.

Pictured: Gavin Stallone, Liana Villalobos, Giuliana Diaz with fourth grade teacher Maura Barrett.

Photo Credit: Maura Barrett

Maura Barrett, a fourth-grade teacher at Carlstadt Public School, organized the donation.

Over her 15 years teaching in the district, Barrett is constantly organizing events that get students involved in their communities.

"It's an important lesson for the kids to learn," she told Daily Voice. "Community service is the most important."

Barrett saw that Silverstrom Group in Livingston, a dental officer near her home, was collecting extra/leftover Halloween candy to send to troops as part of Operation Gratitude.

Operation Gratitude annually sends more than 150,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items -- plus personal letters of appreciation -- to troops deployed overseas.

Barrett immediately contacted parents and students so they could bring in candy the Monday right after Halloween.

For each pound donated, Silverstrom gave $1 in return. Barrett will donate the funds to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, which fights childhood cancer.

MORE INFORMATION: www.operationgratitude.com

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