VILLA PARK — Halloween candy can help bring a little cheer to U.S. service members even after trick-or-treating is over.

The Treats for Troops collection invites residents to set aside leftover Halloween candy for Operation Support Our Troops, a nonprofit devoted to supporting military personnel.

St. Alexander Parish in Villa Park is associated with the local candy collection through its Council of Catholic Women (CCW), which organized a similar drive last year.

The 2026 flyer credits the council's Family Commission with sponsoring the project.

Donations will be accepted November 1 through November 11, 2026, offering families time to share candy from Halloween festivities.

Collection baskets will be available in the parish gathering space.

DATE: November 1–11, 2026.

LOCATION: St. Alexander Parish gathering space, 300 S. Cornell Avenue, Villa Park.

DONATIONS: Leftover Halloween candy.

BENEFITING: Operation Support Our Troops.

Families can make the drive part of a conversation with children about thanking people who serve in the military.

Even a small contribution can be a meaningful act of kindness, especially when neighbors participate together.

The drive is also a simple way to put extra Halloween treats to good use instead of letting them go to waste.

No special event or gathering time is listed on the flyer; look for the designated collection baskets in the gathering space during the donation period.

For local residents looking for a way to give back this November, Treats for Troops provides one more chance to show appreciation for the men and women in uniform.