Food-free Trunk-Or-Treat is preparing for its 10th annual event
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – For many kids, Halloween means dressing up, knocking on doors, and coming home with bags of candy. But for those with food allergies, trick-or-treating can become a little more complicated.
“There’s Reese’s peanut butter cups, Snickers bars. So that peanut allergy or a nut allergy is one of the things that we’re really going to be worried about for kids that have food allergies,” said Dr. David Petty.
But kids with food allergies don’t have to miss out on all the fun.
Meshelle Woods is on her 10th year of throwing her annual food-free trunk-or-treat, where people give out toys instead of candy for kids with food allergies.
“It’s based on the Teal Pumpkin Project, and it signifies to trick-or-treaters that you have non-food items available,” Woods said.
For the past 10 years, Meshelle has made it her mission to create a safe space for every trick-or-treater.
But keeping that tradition alive this year took a level of strength few could imagine.
“August 3rd, my husband passed unexpectedly,” Woods said. “Having him not be here has definitely been hard. He was the person that I could come home and vent to. And he was also the person that I could, sit down at night and start sorting through donations with. He would joke with me, and I could call him when I got a donation, and he’d always be excited with me.”
She says despite this year being tough, she is committed to making sure every child, no matter what their medical needs are, has a safe, happy Halloween.
“Having them personally come up to me at the event and thank me for doing it because their kid gets to be included for once. That’s what keeps me going,” said Woods.
Meshelle is ensuring her husband’s legacy and the magic of Halloween live on for every child.
The event is a reminder of what Meshelle and her husband built together and a testament to how one person’s purpose can bring an entire community together.
The event will take place at the Idaho Falls Aquarium Halloween night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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