Halloween has always been Katrina Fontainesa国际传媒檚 favourite time of the year.

But as a person living with a serious, life-long genetic illness, the Rossland resident is also aware of the problems it creates for many people.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 really lucky, Isa国际传媒檓 able to eat candy and as a kid I was able to participate in trick-or-treating,sa国际传媒� she says. sa国际传媒淏ut I know lots of families with similar conditions who havensa国际传媒檛 had that ability.sa国际传媒�

Many issues can create barriers for kids to participate in trick-or-treating, says Fontaine, from allergies, juvenile diabetes or being tube-fed, to having swallowing or digestive problems or auto-immune disorders like celiac disease.

Thatsa国际传媒檚 why two years ago Fontaine started the sa国际传媒淭eal Pumpkinsa国际传媒� campaign.

The idea is simple. Paint a pumpkin teal-coloured, put it on your doorstep as an indicator that you have non-edible treats available. Instead of sugary candy, children can be offered a small toy.

Fontaine, whose illness means she cansa国际传媒檛 work, says the campaign is a rewarding effort.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a great way for me to get involved in the community, and to try to make Hallowesa国际传媒檈n a little more inclusive for children who might not be able to participate,sa国际传媒� she explains.

Fontaine and her friend Bryony Clark prepared about 20 pre-made packages for families who may want to participate. For $10 to $20 you can buy a pre-painted teal pumpkin and a package of toys, however she doesnsa国际传媒檛 want money to be a barrier for people to participate.

She says the response has been tremendous. Shesa国际传媒檚 sold out all the pre-made packages, and says another 15 families have made up their own packages. (See the sidebar for ideas to create your own self-made package)

sa国际传媒淚 think Rossland is a great community where this is something that is supported,sa国际传媒� she says. sa国际传媒淧eople are quite health-conscious, and even if people donsa国际传媒檛 have those health issues, they still seem to understand the benefits of doing this project.sa国际传媒�

Fontaine says there are many families in Rossland affected by various issues that can keep kids from participating in the holiday and it can help bring the fun of Hallowesa国际传媒檈n back to them.

sa国际传媒淚t is hard for parents. It is really stressful and difficult to limit their childrensa国际传媒檚 participating in something they know their children enjoy, but they know health-wise itsa国际传媒檚 not the best week for them.

sa国际传媒淎nd I think itsa国际传媒檚 difficult all around. The children cansa国际传媒檛 participate in the same way and the families cansa国际传媒檛 participate with other families the same way.

sa国际传媒淪o I think this is a great way for people, they donsa国际传媒檛 have to self-identify and kids are still able to participate.sa国际传媒�

Fontainesa国际传媒檚 preparing a map of all the locations with teal pumpkins in Rossland for Halloween night, and will publish it to bhubble.com and the local Facebook community pages.

sa国际传媒淭wo years ago I sort of did it last minute. I wasnsa国际传媒檛 feeling well at the time,sa国际传媒� she says. sa国际传媒淏ut a local physician, Dr. Laara Banner, said sa国际传媒榠f you get the pumpkins, Isa国际传媒檒l get the people togethersa国际传媒�. So we pulled it together in a couple of days.

sa国际传媒淪o wesa国际传媒檙e hoping that working a few more days in advance, a lot of families will benefit for sure.sa国际传媒�

For more information, contact Katrina at kl.fontaine@gmail.com, on her Facebook page, or call 250-231-8770.

Handing Out Treats:

-If handing out both edible and non-edible treats, you can either mix them together or separate into two bowls.

-Depending on your preference and number of expected trick-or-treaters, you can let each kid choose between candy or a toy, hand out toys and no candy, or give them the option of candy and a toy or two toys (which makes it fair for the kids who cannot have candy).

-Feel free to share about the TPP but itsa国际传媒檚 also not necessary to do so when everyone is offered the same options. Kids donsa国际传媒檛 need an explanation about toys and the kids who require them will know to stay away from the edibles.

Suggestions for non-edible treats:

Glow in the dark (almost) anything

Spooky Halloween trinkets, mini skiulls, bones, vampire fangs, witch fingers

Stickers

Skipping ropes

Matchbox cars

Pencils, erasers, stamps

Mini Play-Doh