JT mayor suggests candy alternative

As many as 15 million Americans have some kind of food allergy, according to figures from Food Allergy Research and Education, and the number has skyrocketed in the past two decades.

Children with food allergies are often left out during trick or treat because of candy that contains peanuts, dairy and other allergens.

Jim Thorpe borough hopes to include them this year by participating in the nationwide Teal Pumpkin Project.

Mayor Michael Sofranko announced on Thursday that the borough is encouraging residents to hang posters on trick or treat night alerting families that they have nonfood items available.

“There’s a lot of children that go trick or treating who can’t take candy. So, is there an alternative to that? And the alternative is this Teal Pumpkin Project,” he said.

The project encourages families to buy school supplies or toys to hand out if a child has a food allergy.

“There’s a whole bunch of things kids can use in school that are inexpensive that they can hand out,” Sofranko said.

In order to let families know that a house has nonfood treats, families are encouraged to paint a pumpkin teal, or hang a poster in their window.

Starting Oct. 22, residents can stop by the borough office or the window at the Jim Thorpe Police station to pick up a poster.

Posters can also be printed out by visiting tealpumpkinproject.org.

Sofranko said he heard from several residents who had children with food allergies, and a relative suggested he check out the project. He said if it is successful in Jim Thorpe, maybe other local communities will adopt it as well.

“I’m not against candy. Trick or treat’s all about candy. This is for the children who can’t enjoy that candy,” he said.