This Halloween, trick-or-treaters in Langdon will notice some different pumpkins around town.
The teal coloured pumpkins are a sign not that the pumpkin has gone bad but that, that house has non-food treats for children with allergies or other dietary restrictions.
“Most families in Langdon know someone that has a dietary restriction due to medical conditions such as food allergies,” said Teal Pumpkin Project organizer Lisa Baker.
Started in the United States by Food Allergy Research and Prevention (FARE), the Teal Pumpkin Project works to raise awareness of food allergies while providing a safe and fun Halloween for kids and families affected by dietary restrictions.
Nationally in Canada, one in 10 children have a food allergy.
“[Those] numbers are reflected in our Langdon schools,” she said.
This is Baker’s second year organizing the teal pumpkins.
“Our family is impacted by food allergies,” she said.
“My youngest son was diagnosed with many allergies, including eggs and peanuts, as an infant and my husband and I have been his advocates since he was 6 months old,” said Baker.
When she realized that this affects many people in the community she decided to become a more active advocate for the community.
“At a school council meeting two years ago I realized there were several families with the same concerns and I decided to formalize our advocacy and awareness efforts,” she said.
The Langdon Teal Pumpkin Project is one the initiatives that came out of that decision.
There are two ways for families to participate in this program. Families can either watch for the teal pumpkin while trick-or-treating in the community or they can reserve a seat on the Halloween Shuttle and be driven around town to all of the Teal Pumpkin Project houses.
Baker is still compiling a list of all the houses that will be sporting a teal pumpkin this year.
“I’ve had lots of houses step up and I anticipate seeing a teal pumpkin in most of our neighbourhoods this year,” she said.
Community members interested in becoming a teal pumpkin house can either paint a pumpkin teal or display a poster with the Teal Pumpkin Project logo and then have some non-food treats ready to hand out to any ghouls or goblins who stop by on Halloween with dietary restrictions.
“If families are wondering how many non-food treats to prepare, I’d suggest keeping the number of items small, no more than 15-20,” said Baker.
Recommended items include stickers, glow stick or play-dough.
For more information or to register as a teal pumpkin house or to ride on the Halloween Shuttle e-mail lisabakerlcce@gmail.com.
