Teal Pumpkin Project promotes safe Halloween for all kids, allergy awareness

Photo By Michelle Gordon | Although the project is specifically designed to help kids with food allergies, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) resident, Heather Scott, says the project also helps make Halloween more inclusive for all kids. Scott’s four-month-old son Ryder suffers from laryngomalacia, more commonly known as a floppy airway. The soft tissue in Ryder’s larynx can easily fall over his airway opening and partially block it, restricting his breathing and eating.  

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES

10.22.2014

Story by Michelle Gordon 

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

By Michelle L. Gordon
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – Most children look forward to Oct. 31 so they can dress-up as their favorite character and ask for candy, but for kids with allergies or medical conditions, Halloween is just another reminder that they’re different.

This year, Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), a nonprofit organization established to help find a cure for food allergies, developed a way to include all kids in trick-or-treating with their creation of the Teal Pumpkin Project.

According to FARE, 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies and many of them are kids.

“This potentially deadly disease affects one in 13 children in the United States – or roughly two in every classroom,” according www.foodallergy.org. “This Halloween, FARE is encouraging communities to start a new tradition that will help make this holiday less scary for children with food allergies.”

The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages people to have non-candy treats, such as bubbles or stickers, available for trick-or-treaters with allergies. Participation in the project is easy. Either paint a pumpkin teal – the color of food allergy awareness – and place it in front of your house, or download a free sign from the FARE Teal Pumpkin webpage, www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project.

Although the project is specifically designed to help kids with food allergies, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) resident, Heather Scott, says the project also helps make Halloween more inclusive for all kids.

Scott’s four-month-old son Ryder suffers from laryngomalacia, more commonly known as a floppy airway. The soft tissue in Ryder’s larynx can easily fall over his airway opening and partially block it, restricting his breathing and eating.
“Normally, if it’s a mild case, kids outgrow laryngomalacia between 18-24 months, but if it’s more severe, it can require surgery,” said Scott. “Ryder will probably outgrow it, but my concern is still food textures. It’ll be something I’ll worry about even if he outgrows it because we’ve been to too many emergency rooms.”

Scott said she’s participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project this year to help kids with all medical conditions enjoy Halloween.

“The Teal Pumpkin Project is great because it informs people,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know or understand that there are kids with allergies or conditions where they can’t have candy. This is a great way to encourage people to have a few toys or stickers, along with candy, so kids have the option, because every kid should be able to participate in trick-or-treating.”

For more information about the Teal Pumpkin Project and to see a list of recommended non-candy items, visit www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project.

• Date Taken: 10.22.2014
• Date Posted: 10.22.2014 08:52
• Story ID: 145766
• Location: JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US