Teal Pumpkins One Way Halloween Made More Inclusive
Local residents are helping kids with allergies by setting out teal pumpkins to symbolize their candy is allergy free. Meanwhile, a yearly event in Brooklyn Park creates more Halloween fun for people with disabilities. More than 200 people showed up at this year’s event hosted by Reach for Resources.
Teal Pumpkins
For parents with children that have food allergies, finding houses where kids can trick or treat is easier than you think. The Teal Pumpkin Project started as a way to include kids who have food allergies in trick or treat activities. If a house has a teal pumpkin in front of it, that means they offer alternative treats for kids with food allergies. To find homes that are taking part in the Teal Pumpkin Project near you type your zip code in the this map, and it will bring up homes that are allergy friendly.
Hosting a Halloween for Everyone
More than 200 people, including many with disabilities, flocked to a Saturday night event hosted by Twin Cities nonprofit, Reach for Resources.
“Our goal is to help all individuals reach their full potential,” said Emily Orr of Reach Resources. “Everybody looks forward to it so much. People start asking about it months and months in advance. We heard people saying last year that it gets better every year.”
Attendees didn’t shy away from saying the event made them happy.
One of the highlights was a Halloween costume contest – which gave people a chance to show off their creative side. There were also games and activities throughout the evening to keep participants entertained.
Reach’s goal is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and give them a chance to experience things that most of us take for granted.
“We’re just helping people to expand their social networks and be engaged in their communicates as much as possible,” Orr said.
Almost 50 volunteers helped with the event.
