As children across Hernando County trick-or-treat this Halloween, they’ll no doubt be collecting any number of delectable candy treats, along with the wrappers that come with them. As a part of a new Halloween tradition, two Hernando young people will be putting these wrappers to good use.
Letty and Payton Lockhart are sisters and Girl Scouts based in Spring Hill, FL. As a part of the second annual Happy Halloween Community Service Project, they are requesting community donations of used candy wrappers for a massive recycling effort.
According to the girls’ research, more than 600 million pounds of Halloween candy are purchased each year. “We are collecting candy wrappers to help our environment and help reduce waste at our landfills,” reads a collection drive flier. “Candy packaging is difficult to recycle, with the majority ending up in landfills, waterways and oceans.”
All candy wrappers can be dropped off on the porch at 6251 Pinehurst Drive, Spring Hill. And as donors support a good cause, they’ll be helping the girls work toward a President Community Award.
“I like to help people become people who don’t have as much as others,” said Letty. “I decided to do the candy wrapper collecting again because I did not want them to go into the ocean, and we collected a lot last year.”
“I wanted to help people because my sister inspired me to help people who don’t have many things,” added Payton. “I wanted to put candy wrappers on again because it is good for our animals, our sea life, and our world.”
It’s been a busy year for the Lockharts, with Letty Lockhart winning the Good Deed Award from the American Legion Post 186 in Brooksville as well as District 15 of the American Legion Auxiliary Dept. of FL. This award is in honor of her donation of 170 pounds of food and 62 self-made sandwiches to People Helping People in Hernando County, an interfaith community established to provide food, clothing and other basic necessities to needy individuals.
Both sisters dropped off items at a nursing and rehabilitation center for the residents. “They did items like craft supplies, bracelets that they handmade, cross stitch supplies, crocheting supplies, plastic canvas, hair clips, beading kits and much more,” said mom Brittany Lockhart. “The residents were so excited to meet the girls and can’t wait for the girls to come back in the future to call bingo cards and do crafts with them.”
And that’s not all. “The girls did a gender reveal baby shower. It was a huge success,” said Brittany Lockhart. “The next project that they are going to be doing is collecting candy wrappers again to help make the world a better place and to keep them out of our waterways. The second project that they are going to be working on is collecting items for families and children that are in the Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg. There’s going to be many items that they will be collecting.”
Letty and Payton are anxious to help support children served by the Ronald McDonald House. The girls created a flyer that stated, “We will be making kits for families and children for Christmas. The kits will be snacks and crafts.”
As with the candy wrappers, donations for this project can be dropped off at 6251 Pinehurst Drive in Spring Hill. Accepted items include coloring books, coloring pencils, small LEGO sets, pencil sharpeners, crayons, fidget spinners, new stuffed animals with tags, K-cups, and snack items (no candy).
Visit Two Girls Donations on Facebook for more information about the charitable efforts of Letty and Payton Lockhart.
