Books For Treats: give brain candy this year

October 30, 5:05 PMSt. Louis Low-Carb ExaminerAmy Dungan

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Give books for Halloween. Kids love them and it makes a positive impact in their lives.
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/281384

Halloween is upon us once again. Hordes of people are, even now, wading through the aisles of candy, carmel apples and popcorn balls. While a favorite holiday of many children the world over, Halloween is a low-carb nightmare. Forget trying to scare us with demons and mass murderers. But show us a jumbo sized package of snickers and we run screaming like little girls.

Many of you may remember this article last year admonishing people to forgo at least some of the sugary junk and find alternative treats for the youngsters on Halloween. While healthier, sometimes finding non-food goodies can be more expensive if you expect a lot of ghosts and ghouls to visit your home. Americans spend $950 million on candy each year. That's a lot of cavities and future health issues in the making.

Thankfully there are many wonderfully creative people in this world that would also like to see this aspect of All Hallows Eve change. If you are among that number, and have children of your own, the following website may just thrill you.

Books For Treats is an ingenious program that encourages parents to recycle their gently used children's books by giving them out on Halloween. 

"Since Halloween 2001, we've given up to 6500 books each year to excited, costumed Willow Glen trick-or-treaters. Now-former Mayor Ron Gonzales, now-former Councilman Ken Yeager, Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio joined us in greeting the kids and happy parents. We are supported by the Diabetes Association."

How can you participate? The website gives us some ways to get involved.

• Gather gently read children's books to give out in your neighborhood.
  
• Download our kit to help you sort your books by grade level.
  
• Volunteer to help (fill out the form on the left)
  
• Have your company become a sponsor
  
• Make a donation of any amount through PayPal to info@BooksForTreats.org. We appreciate any funds, as they help us purchase used books, provide PR and ads to get the word out, and keep our web site up to date.
  
• Talk to your friends, co-workers and neighbors about participating in Books for Treats. Send them a link to this web site.
  

Want to talk to someone about how you can help?
Contact Rebecca Morgan, founder and Executive Director
408/998-7977
info@booksfortreats.org