In the 10th year of the Butterfinger Challenge, a group of students at Huntington Middle School in Kelso, Washington, donated a record amount of candy bars from their Halloween haul to their science teacher last month. The candy—all 2,553 cm (nearly 84 ft) of it—and dozens of hand-drawn cards thanking active-duty military members for their service are going back with the teacher’s son after Christmas to an Army base in North Carolina for our nation’s service members to enjoy.
The annual tradition started in 2014 when a student discovered their science teacher, Heath Wiltfong, likes Butterfingers. A few 6th grade students brought Wiltfong Butterfingers from their Halloween candy, and continued to do so over their middle school years. Other students joined in and it turned into a competition known as the Butterfinger Challenge.
Eventually there were too many for Wiltfong to eat. Holding a great respect for the sacrifices others make for our country, coupled with several family members serving in the military, giving the candy to service members on Veterans Day was a natural fit for Wiltfong.
For the last two and a half years, his son Josh has been serving in the Army Airborne in North Carolina. Josh now takes the candy and hand-written thank you cards to his platoon each year after coming home for Thanksgiving or, like this year, Christmas. The delay between Veterans Day and delivery makes the welcomed treat of candy and cards even more of a surprise. They are all missing home, Wiltfong says. “And it helps them knowing students from Washington state appreciate their sacrifices.”
“A Butterfinger isn’t just candy, it is a piece of love and compassion,” shared 6th grader Tenley Settle. “Every one of those pieces of candy is going to someone who is making a sacrifice for our country. They’re fighting for you, and they don’t even know you.”
“What makes this so special is my students, who are giving up something they love, to show support for others,” Wiltfong affirms. “It’s this gift of kindness that make me so proud of them.”
“I love helping others and I feel really happy that I gave all my butterfingers,” said 6th grader Alexandra Chisholm. “I’ve always wanted to thank them—my dad was in the Army—and I am grateful for all those people.”