Halloween can be a frightening time in a non-traditional sense if your child suffers from food allergies. Candy can not only be full of the major allergens, but is also often made in factories that manufacture nut/milk products. FAAN (The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) has incorporated a way to raise food allergy awareness, keep your children safe, and let them have fun all in one. Instead of trick or treating for candy, kids can get a food allergy collection box from FAAN and raise awareness of food allergies while collecting funds instead of candy at Halloween.

Kids can still dress up as their favorite character/monster/creation and participate in all of the fun, but rather than accept candy, they ask for donations for FAAN. This follows the same concept as trick or treating for Unicef, and every piece of change counts. Last year over $20,000 was raised through this program.

You can go to the FAAN website and order a box to be shipped directly to your home and you can order up to six boxes. Moms and Dads can get in on the collecting, so can friends. The site also has tips on fundraising for your children when they go door to door and some helpful words on what to say. Your child can practice beforehand and if he is especially shy, you can even write it out and your child can hand it to the people to read. Of course, you can always do the talking, but sometimes it’s more effective coming straight from the kids.

When you and your child are finished collecting, you just send in your complete donation to FAAN by mail or online. It’s easy and a great cause. Once you receive your first box, you will automatically get one the next year.

These fundraising/awareness projects can also be a good way to spread awareness in your child’s class. If you speak to her teacher first, this can be incorporated into a class fundraising project. Since donations can be made online, you can reach out to friends and family in other areas as well.

Good luck and more to come on trick or treating safety!

- Heather Legg