HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — According to the CDC, one in 13 children has food allergies, and for some, those allergies can be life-threatening.
“When Campbell was four months old, that’s when we found out that he had several life-threatening food allergies, and then throughout the rest of his first year of life, more and more just kept popping up,” said Mary Morgan Newman. She is Campbell’s mom.
For Kids like Campbell, life looks different; they have to hear a lot of “no’s” in order to keep them healthy.
“As he’s getting older, it’s getting harder to tell him no, especially birthday parties,” said Newman. “Going to a birthday party and him asking, ‘Is there going to be cake there’ and telling him, ‘yes, there is going to be cake, but buddy it’s not safe for you.’”
Although a ‘yes’ finally comes on Halloween when houses trick or treating participate in the teal pumpkin project.
“The teal pumpkin project is very simple,” Newman said. “It’s just encouraging those who are giving out candy at Halloween to remember those who have food allergies.”
They can do so by passing out toys and trinkets instead of candy. It allows these kiddos to get the experience without getting turned away at the door when they cant have certain types of candy.
“Spider rings, glow sticks, little things,” Newman said. “They’re super cheap, but it makes these kids so happy.”
This year, Newman said she posted to their neighborhood Facebook page, explaining their story and how other houses could participate as well.
That’s when Rachel Kellum replied, saying her house could be a safe stop for Campbell.
“It may not be something that directly affects you, but it affects your neighbors,” said Kellum. “It affects children all around you, so it’s just a simple and easy way to love on people.”
She does not have kids with food allergies, but said your small gesture could be a part of making core memories for a child and their family, and for Campbell and the Newmans, that’s certainly the case this year.
“This will be the first year that we are getting to go to strangers’ houses and trick or treat,” Newman said. “In past years, we have only gone to close friends and family’s houses, so this is going to be Campbell’s first real year trick or treating.”
If you are going to participate in the teal pumpkin project, Newman gave the reminder to keep your regular candy and hypoallergenic toys and treats in separate buckets to avoid cross-contamination.
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