ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – While many kids are thinking about what they’ll wear this Halloween, others are more concerned about the ingredients of the candy they might find in their trick-or-treating buckets. That’s why a national initiative is working to make the holiday fun and safe for all children.
A lot changed for Samantha Gaudino’s family when her son, Shepard, was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy.
“We found that attending events and going trick-or-treating was a lot more scary than it should have been,” Gaudino said.
Gaudino began searching for a solution. That’s when she found the Teal Pumpkin Project.
“The Teal Pumpkin Project is a nationwide initiative that encourages homeowners to offer non-food items instead of, or alongside of, candy treats for Halloween,” she explained. “Stuff like spider rings, vampire fangs, witch fingers, Slinkies. Pretty much endless opportunity there.”
The Teal Pumpkin is a sign of a safe place to trick-or-treat for kids like Shepard.
“The Teal Pumpkin Project was originally aimed at children with food allergies,” said Gaudino, “but it also benefits a whole scope of children from diabetes, feeding tubes, and other medical conditions that just prevent them from enjoying the traditional treats that we’re used to for Halloween.”
While not required, households participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project can put their address on an official map to help families plan their trick-or-treating route.
“We’re hoping to beat our record last year, which was actually 35 participants, and hopefully get the word out to those people that could benefit from the map as well,” Gaudino said. “Most kids really prefer the toys over the candy anways, so it’s an easy adjustment and makes every kid feel normal for that night.”
As the local community coordinator for the Teal Pumpkin Project, Gaudino wants eveery child in Delta County to have a happy Halloween focused on costumes treats, family and friends, rather than a potential health emergency.
“One in thirteen children have a food allergy, so there’s a few hundred kids in the community that benefit greatly,” she said. “My philosophy is even if it helps one kid feel included and feel like a normal, everyday child on Halloween, that’s a win for me.”
To learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, visit tealpumpkinproject.org. To register for the official Delta County map, click here.
For updates on the local initiative and events, follow Teal Pumpkin Project of Delta County on Facebook.
