MARQUETTE — Every year, millions of pounds of candy end up in the trash after Halloween.

From over-buying to kids collecting more than they can eat while trick-or-treating, candy is wasted across the country.

This year, Flourish Financial Partners is participating in a program that will help our community produce less waste after Halloween while also showing support for service members and veterans.

Soldiers’ Angels, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit, hosts an annual collection drive for excess Halloween candy. The organization ships the candy to deployed service members around the world for a sweet treat from home. They also utilize their “Angel” volunteers to distribute candy to veterans of all eras in VA Hospitals across the country.

According to a press release, “Flourish Financial Partners is proud to team up with the national organization to get our local community involved with giving back to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. Our business has registered with Soldiers’ Angels to be an official drop-off site for Halloween candy.”

Once this collection drive is over, Flourish Financial Partners will donate all collected candy to Soldiers’ Angels where it will be packaged and shipped to deployed or distributed in VA Hospitals.

“We’re happy to have the opportunity to make a difference and give back to our troops,” said Scott Knaffla, Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Partner of Flourish Financial Partners.

The vision of Soldiers’ Angels is: May No Soldier Go Unloved. Although the gesture of handing out miniature candy bars may seem small, the impact that small gesture can have on troops and veterans is huge.

“When you are deployed to a combat zone, there are many comfort items you may go without for an extended period of time,” said Amy Palmer, President and CEO of Soldiers’ Angels, in the press release.

“Receiving care packages from home is a wonderful and unexpected surprise. The joy these service members get from opening a package of treats from home is immense and has a profound impact on their morale.

“The same can be said for veteran patients in VA Hospitals. Some patients have no family or regular visitors. When our Angel volunteers come in with treats like candy, the spirits of these patients are immediately lifted.”

The local collection drive will run now until Nov. 4 — weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by Flourish’s location to drop off candy: 1501 Division St., Marquette.