Teal Pumpkin Project Spreads to Port Washington

What Do Teal Pumpkins Mean This Halloween Season?

When you’re out trick-or-treating this year, you may find a “teal pumpkin” on the front porches of homes throughout Port Washington, and its message is one many families want to know about.

Local resident Blanka Monasterio-Redelick brought this initiative to Port Washington and across Long Island to help raise awareness of food allergies and promote the inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season, which is a cause very close to her heart.

Redelick’s youngest son suffers from severe multiple life threatening food and non-food allergies.

She began this local Teal Pumpkin movement on Sept. 14 of this year, the day of her son’s ninth birthday. She took the Teal Pumpkin Project™ Pledge to provide a safe environment not only for her son but for all the children who suffer from any type of food allergy. (Follow her on Facebook here)

Redelick, in partnership with Dominick Strippoli, the support of Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio and PW Police Commissioner Dave Franklin, started a local Fundraising Event for this cause that has been going on since Oct. 12 and ends on Halloween. Teal pumpkins cost $5 at the North Shore Garden Center Inc., located at 53 Avenue A in Port Washington. All funds go to Food Allergy Research & Education Official Organization. Follow the link to the event here.

Another local event with the support of the PW Girls Scouts Troops, “Teal Pumpkin Painting Series,” kicked off on Tuesday and it ends this Friday. Over ten troops signed up for the event, that is over 100 girls and their families participating and supporting the movement locally . Find out more information here.

The Teal Pumpkin Project™, created in 2014 by Food Allergy Research and Education F.A.R.E., has grown nationwide and worldwide. “We hope to surpass the goal of 100,000 households taking the pledge in the U.S.,” Redelick said.

In 2014, households from all 50 states and seven countries participated in the project. This year, the organization hopes for an even larger participation rate.

Residents who place a teal pumpkin on their doorstep send a message to trick-or-treaters and their families that that home will have non-food treats like glow sticks, stickers, bracelets, etc. in support of children with food allergies.

Simply make sure you have these non-food treats on hand for trick-or-treaters, paint a pumpkin teal to place outside, along with a free printable sign from FARE to indicate you have non-food treats. Print a sign here.

Photo Courtesy: Blanka Monasterio-Redelick