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Canon City candy store sends "Treats for our Troops"

Story By: Mark Hanrahan
Source: KOAA

Published Mon Mar 10, 2008, 08:13 PM MDT
Updated Mon Mar 10, 2008, 09:56 PM MDT

In the basement of Fandies Candy Store in downtown Canon City, Monday, a group of high school students stuffed boxes full of candy.  The boxes are destined for Fort Carson soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Store owner, Debi Moore says, "I really believe each person in this community and in our country has an obligation to support our troops."

The program is called, 'treats for our troops.'  It was started last year by Moore, who through private donations, raised enough money to send eight care packages filled with candy overseas. The response she received, though, was inspiration to do something bigger.  

'Thank you' cards and pictures of soldiers holding candy, line a bulletin board in the front of her store.  This year Moore teamed up with candidates for Canon City's 63rd annual Blossom Festival Pageant.  Pageant director Megan Yarberry says, "I wanted them to be really involved in the community and the world around us."  

Over the course of two months, twenty-one pageant candidates scoured the community looking for donations; raising 25-hundred dollars.  Moore says, "That is a lot of candy if you can imagine, the store might be empty for Easter."

It was enough money to more than triple the amount of candy they'll send overseas, compared to last year; enough for twenty-five, ten pound boxes.  

Pageant candidate and high school student Brooke Madone says, "It makes me feel really good, it makes me feel like we're changing the world."  Candidate Cassidy Gunter says, "I think a lot of people tend to forget and to say 'thank you,' I think they'll really appreciate it.

As for Moore, she says she'll continue the program, trying to bring treats to our troops twice a year.  "When the war is over and all of the soldiers are home, I can look back and say, I did my part in the whole big picture of things."