Emily Good, 9, of Chaska gives Halloween candy to the St. Francis Regional Medical Center and Park Dental-Shakopee candy buyback on Monday. Good and her brother, Evan, 11, gave up five pounds of candy.

“It sounded cool and it’s for the troops, too,” said Evan, 11. Also pictured are Michael Morris, St. Francis’ director of business development, and Barb Villano of Chaska from the Blue Star Mothers South Metro.

In their first ever candy buyback event, organizers traded dollar bills for pounds of candy. The response from the community was more than they bargained for. Nearly 700 pounds of Snickers bars, M&Ms, Skittles and other sugary treats were collected for U.S. troops serving overseas.

“I never expected so many kids to give up their Halloween candy,” said Lisa Northrup, Park Dental practice manager. “It’s surpassed our expectations,” said Morris.