CANDY CRUSADE

For those of us with a sweet tooth, no excuse is needed to make us buy candy. Chocolate-covered peanuts are particularly persuasive. But for those blessed with self-control when it comes to sweets, the chance to help out a local nonprofit offers a reason to indulge. Pease’s Candy of Springfield is holding its 9th annual Month of Charity event in August, turning candy purchases into donations for Springfield charities. The promotion features 20 percent off each purchase, with five percent of the total sales during August going toward one of four charities. A portion of money raised from Aug. 1 to 7 goes to the Hoogland Center for the Arts, while the Animal Protective League benefits from candy purchases from Aug. 8 to 15. From Aug. 16 to 23, proceeds benefit St. Martin De Porres food pantry, with Sojourn Women’s Shelter getting the final cut from Aug. 24 to 31. Pease’s owner Rob Flesher says the event started as a simple sale to clear out inventory, but it transformed into a way to give back to the community. He says the event usually generates between $500 and $1,000 per charity, and some people even call months in advance wanting to know when their favorite charity’s week will be. “It’s a fun event,” Flesher says. “We look forward to this every year. It was just a sale the first year, but now it has evolved into much more.”