My household is one of inclusion. Since my husband lives with type 1 diabetes and I’ve heard stories about how he just wanted to feel the same as everyone else growing up, we make sure to teach our kids that everyone has something unique about them and excluding someone from something due to a medical condition is not ok. That’s why I was so excited to hear about the Teal Pumpkin Project. Children living with diabetes can absolutely go trick-or-treating and get candy, but having the option to get something without sugar is also a great alternative and let’s be honest – is a parent’s dream! Even though my kids don’t have diabetes, I don’t need them wound up on sugar at 9pm at night either – the excitement of dressing up like superheroes is enough to kick their energy into high gear. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Lois A. Witkop, Chief Advancement Officer with the Food Allergy Research & Education to talk more about the Teal Pumpkin Project.
Kids of all ages love Halloween. For one night each year, everyone gets to play dress-up and visit the neighbors. But for youngsters who can’t share in the snacking, the emphasis on collecting sugary treats can dampen the Halloween spirit. FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) launched the Teal Pumpkin Project in 2014 to make Halloween happy and safe for all, including children for whom candy isn’t an option.
Why Teal Pumpkins?
The Teal Pumpkin Project was inspired by a local support group, the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET). In 2012, FACET director Becky Basalone painted a pumpkin teal – the color of food allergy awareness – to let trick-or-treaters know that non-food treats were available and safe for kids with food allergies. With Becky’s support, FARE has spread this campaign to millions of people across all 50 U.S. states and 14 countries.
While the Teal Pumpkin Project is rooted in the food allergy community, its inclusive spirit is shared with all children, especially kids whose trick-or-treating is limited by a special diet. Households that take part in the Teal Pumpkin Project offer Halloween happiness to children managing a range of medical conditions, including tens of thousands of youngsters with diabetes.
How Do I Participate?
Joining the Teal Pumpkin Project is easy. All you need is a teal pumpkin and a bowl of non-food treats. If no pumpkins are available, you can find free downloadable posters on the FARE website. Displaying a teal pumpkin signals that non-food goodies are available at your house. Another way to advertise your allergy-friendly address is to place a pin on FARE’s interactive Teal Pumpkin Project participation map.
Of course, being part of the Teal Pumpkin project doesn’t mean that you can’t hand out snacks. Many Teal Pumpkin Project families let trick-or-treaters choose: candy or a prize? Just remember to keep the snacks and trinkets in two separate bowls. If you’ve ever watched children open their goody bags at a birthday party, you know that non-food treats are popular, even with kids who love candy.
Some teal pumpkins come from a garden, others from a craft store, but all are fun to paint and decorate. For children who don’t have dietary restrictions, this creative activity is also a lesson in empathy: Some kids can’t eat candy, so we can share our fun by offering treats that are safe for them.
The 2017 goal of the Teal Pumpkin Project is for at least one home on every block to stock up on non-food treats and welcome all trick-or-treaters with a beautiful, blue-green pumpkin. This Halloween, we hope that children with special diets can spot a teal pumpkin on your doorstep, and smile.
For more information about the Teal Pumpkin Project, including free resources, please visit tealpumpkinproject.org.
FAQs
FARE's Teal Pumpkin Project is a worldwide movement to create a safer, happier Halloween for all kids. Putting a teal pumpkin on your doorstep means you have non-food treats available, such as glow sticks or small toys. This simple act promotes inclusion for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions.
What does a teal Halloween bucket mean? ›
Teal pumpkin buckets are used as a signal to let others know that a child has a food allergy. The "Teal Pumpkin Project" started as a safe by the food allergy community of east Tennessee to help make trick-or-treating more inclusive and safe for children with food allergies.
What is the teal project? ›
The Teal Pumpkin Project promotes safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies. This worldwide movement offers an alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as other children for whom candy is not an option.
What does it mean if a house displays a teal pumpkin outside? ›
Place a teal-colored pumpkin outside on your porch or doorstep to signify that you have non-food or allergen-free treats in addition to or in place of traditional candy. If you're offering both, make sure to place the candy in a separate container. If your child has food allergies, get them a teal-colored treat bucket.
What do teal pumpkins symbolize? ›
What does a teal pumpkin mean? If you see a teal pumpkin on someone's doorstep, that means they are handing out non-food items to trick-or-treaters. This is especially meaningful for kids with food allergies.
Who started the teal pumpkin Project and why? ›
This is a popular Halloween trend that started in 2014 by FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) to help create an allergy-safe Halloween that will make more children feel included.
Are teal pumpkins real? ›
The Teal Pumpkin Project
This project originated as a local activity by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee and has since become a worldwide event. According to FARE, teal is the color for food allergy awareness and has been used to raise awareness about food-related medical conditions for 20 years.
What does teal symbolize? ›
For many people, teal symbolizes decency and renovation. A shy color, it's composed of shades of blue and green. Its reserved nature promotes clarity, open communication, and practical thinking. Not too evocative, teal is helpful for applications designed for stress relief.
What does a blue pumpkin on your porch mean? ›
If you see someone on your front porch carrying a blue pumpkin—or see a home with a blue pumpkin display—that is a sign that this particular trick-or-treater may be non-speaking or living with autism spectrum disorder. That means folks handing out candy shouldn't expect them to yell “Trick or treat!” or say thank you.
What does a blue pumpkin mean? ›
While blue pumpkins and blue pumpkin buckets are not tied to a specific fundraiser or organization, they are used to signal that a child may have autism or a sensory processing disorder.
Results showed that those in the movement preferred a teal ribbon as a symbol for sexual assault awareness and it has since become nationally recognized.
What does it mean if someone leaves a pumpkin at your door? ›
It is probably a gift. It is traditional in some parts of the USA to put a pumpkin or jack-o'-lantern on your porch or steps at this time of year.
What does a purple pumpkin mean at Halloween? ›
Purple pumpkins have also been popular for a few years, starting in 2012 with the launch of the Purple Pumpkin Project. The color was originally used to raise awareness and funds for epilepsy, helping to support kids and adults who experience seizures.
What does a white pumpkin on your porch mean? ›
Decorating your porch with white pumpkins is a way to honor a child lost from miscarriage, stillbirth, or sudden infant death syndrome. While October is a month to celebrate Halloween and embrace family traditions, it's also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
What is the pumpkin head mystery about? ›
Every year at the Beckett farm, visitors come to buy pumpkins and go on hayrides, but this year something is haunting the old place―a mysterious specter with a glowing pumpkin head that warns guests to stay away! It's up to the Aldens to find out who―or what―is behind the scare.
What is the teal lantern Corps? ›
Overview. The Teal Lantern Corps represent despair, and are also called the Ocean's Light. They were founded by an alien named H'tala, and fight by harnessing the power of intense sadness.
