I've sharing over the past week with my daughter about The Teal Pumpkin Project, since she's very aware of Peanut Allergy and the affect that it has on several of her classmates this year....so yesterday she painted her pumpkin!
1 in 13 children have a food allergy according to FARE.
Let's help make this Halloween inclusive for kids with food allergies by participating and spreading the word about the Teal Pumpkin Project!
What’s the Teal Pumpkin Project?
The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages people to start a new tradition and raise awareness of food allergies during the Halloween season by: providing non-food treats for trick-or-treaters, and painting a pumpkin teal – the color of food allergy awareness – to place in front of their house along with a free-printable sign from FARE to indicate they have non-food treats available.
The idea for the Teal Pumpkin Project originated with the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET), and FARE is pleased to be bringing it to the attention of families across the country for the first time this year.
What do I do if I want to participate?
Participating is simple – paint a pumpkin teal, pick up some inexpensive toys and download FARE’s sign to show that you have non-food treats to hand out. It’s a simple gesture that can have a big impact. You can also download FARE’s promotional flyer to circulate in your local community so that your neighbors can participate too!
Why teal?
Teal is the color of food allergy awareness.
Are there any non-food treats that I should avoid?
There are a few considerations when choosing which non-food items to hand out. First, some non-food items still contain allergens, such as Play-Doh, which contains wheat. Additionally, try to choose latex-free items, as there are children who also have latex allergies.
Can I still pass out candy?
Sure – just do it safely! The point of the Teal Pumpkin Project is to make trick-or-treating as inclusive as possible. You can keep the experience safe by keeping your food treats and non-food treats in separate bowls, and by asking trick-or-treaters if they have any food allergies or giving them a choice of which treat they’d like: candy, or a non-food item.
How do I get my neighbors involved?
Print out some of FARE’s flyers and put them in your neighbors’ mailboxes. If you have a neighborhood email lists: you can send out an email about the initiative, including a link to FARE’s website. You can also reach out to your local library, dentist/doctor offices, schools, or community buildings to see if they would be willing to help you post signs or get the word out. Share information on social media, and post a picture of your teal pumpkins when you have them near your door! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #TealPumpkinProject when you post!
Ideas for Non-food Treats
Available at dollar stores, party supply stores, or online shops, these low-cost items can be purchased and handed out to all trick-or-treaters, or made available in a separate bowl from candy if you choose to hand out both options. Nearly all of these items can be found in a Halloween theme or festive colors.
Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
Bubbles
Halloween erasers or pencil toppers
Mini Slinkies
Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
Bouncy balls
Finger puppets or novelty toys
Coins
Spider rings
Vampire fangs
Mini notepads
Playing cards
Bookmarks
Stickers
For more information, Q&A, plus a sign - go here: http://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project
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