Creating a Safe and Inclusive Halloween: Richmond Mom and Local Organizations Team Up to Make Halloween Fun for Kids with Food Allergies

For many families, Halloween is typically a playful holiday filled with few tricks and plenty of treats. But for families of children with food allergies and food sensitivities, this candy-centric holiday can be more fraught than fun.

Richmond mom, Sherrina Gibson, knows all about the challenges of trying to create joy around Halloween while also keeping her family safe from potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Sherrina and her husband, Mitch, are the parents of Carter, a bright and joyful school-age child who - at 9 months old – was found to have 33 food allergies.

“Halloween should be fun,” Sherrina shares. “But it’s a holiday when more kids end up in the Emergency Department.”

In the United States, 1 in every 13 children and 1 in every 10 adults have at least one food allergy.*

“Food allergies are a health condition and are considered a disability by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),” Sherrina explains. “And these statistics suggest that they are not uncommon.”

Throughout her professional career as a health data analyst, Sherrina has worked to enhance the lives of others by providing data-driven insights to non-profit organizations and public health organizations. Last year, inspired by her daughter’s journey, Sherrina launched the Carter Foundation LLC, a research-based consulting firm with expertise in quality improvement, research and program evaluation related to food allergies and related conditions.

She is also the Lead Coordinator of the Richmond Food Allergy Support Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/375242322502115) providing support, resources, education, and advocacy to families who are navigating life with food allergies.

When Sherrina first heard about the Better2gether Halloween Hustle 5K and Kids Run, she knew she wanted to get involved. Last year, Sherrina met with Stephanie Becker, Better2gether co-founder, to talk about how their two organizations could work together to make this event an allergy-friendly one.

“It’s important for communities with special healthcare needs to have inclusive and safe events,” Sherrina shares. “Stephanie was in full agreement. She and I talked about how dietary restrictions can be a barrier that keeps families from participating in events like this Halloween-themed one. The mission of both Richmond Food Allergy Support Group and Better2gether is a shared goal of accessibility and inclusion. Making the Halloween Hustle a family-friendly and allergy-friendly event was important to both of us.”

Last year, with the help of a generous grant from the Kiwanis Club, Better2gether was able to purchase the top nine allergy-friendly treats as well as teal pumpkins (the symbol for food allergy awareness during Halloween), so that sponsors and vendors at the Halloween Hustle 5K and Kids Run could share treats the entire community could enjoy. Additionally, there were many activities available for children and families that weren’t food focused.

This year, these two remarkable organizations will partner again to make the Halloween Hustle a fun, safe and inclusive event for all.

To register as a runner, walker, or stroller for this family-friendly event on Saturday, October 19th, please visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Henrico/RVACares5K

*Facts and Statistics - FoodAllergy.org