The Teal Pumpkin Project Continues This Year

Have you heard about the Teal Pumpkin Project?

It's a way for children with food allergies to enjoy all the festivities of Halloween, without the problems that come with for them with candy treats.

Put out a teal-colored pumpkin and look for teal-colored pumpkin candy baskets from trick-or-treaters this Halloween. It's a way to communicate that they need, and you have non-food treats, allergy-free treats available. If you would like to participate in this initiative, there are a few simple steps:

• Place a teal pumpkin in front of your home.
• Provide non-food treats such as school supplies, coins, whistles, kazoos, stickers, comic books, bookmarks or any number of other items suggested on this list. Avoid such things as clay which may contain allergens.
• Add your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project map.
• Tell your neighbors to do the same!

You can still use a separate orange bowl to pass out candy if you'd like. You can paint your own pumpkin teal or simply print a sign to indicate you're participating.

Learn more about the entire process at this website.

There is another initiative going on involving blue pumpkins to raise awareness for autism. Autistic kids may not be able or comfortable saying "trick-or-treat" so your blue pumpkin lets them know you're aware of their plight. Learn more here.

[Via FARE/Teal Pumpkin Project, CBS News]