Posts Tagged KFA

#WhereIsYourEpi Campaign Updates

Thursday, January 29th, 2015 | Permalink

By Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

I am a firm believer that when we work together towards common goals, great things can be achieved. There is much work to be done in the food allergy community and it is going to take the hands and hearts of many to accomplish it.

In keeping with the theme of working together, I have two exciting updates to share with you:

1. News From KFA

Kids With Food Allergies will be hosting a year-long campaign named “WhereInTheWorldIsMyEpi”. The purpose of this campaign is the same as my #WhereIsYourEpi? campaign: to encourage those with food allergies to always have immediate access to their epinephrine auto-injectors. Lynda Mitchell, KFA Founder and Senior Director, called me earlier this week to share her campaign and to let me know that it had been in the works for months. Lynda Mitchell stated, “For those of us active in the food allergy community, we see the same concerns and gaps in education and awareness. This means that occasionally we’re going to find out we’re both trying to tackle the same issue at the same time.”

I think this is great news and I could not be more pleased that a wonderful organization like KFA will be devoting an entire year to this important educational campaign. To learn more about it, visit KFA’s website.

2. GratefulFoodie and NutFreeWok Join My “Beyond Awareness” Campaigns for 2015

Speaking of working together, I am honored to have Caroline Moassessi and Sharon Wong partner with me for the rest of the 2015 “Beyond Awareness” educational campaigns. We will be announcing a new campaign each month. Stay tuned to learn how you can become involved too! Feel free to contact me with any questions or leave a comment below!

Reminder: The #WhereIsYourEPI? campaign ends February 14th, so you still have 2 more weeks to get your submissions in. One winner will be chosen at random and will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Be sure to share your photos here on my website, or on twitter (it must be tagged #WhereIsYourEPI to qualify. Thanks so much for participating!

Tags: #WhereIsYourEPI, allergy, Beyond Awareness, Caroline Moassessi, epi, epinephrine, food, gratefulfoodie, KFA, Lynda Mitchell, Mylan, nutfreewok, Sharon Wong, WhereInTheWorldisYourEpi
Posted in Blog, Educational Campaign, In the News | 3 Comments »

Inclusion Means Everyone: The TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT

Monday, October 20th, 2014 | Permalink

Next Friday night as I put our Teal Pumpkin outside on my front steps, I will say a silent prayer of thanks to a mom I have never met, in a state far from my own, who decided to share a simple but wonderful idea.

What was her idea? Place a teal pumpkin on your doorstep to let trick-or-treaters know that you provide non-food treats.

“We did not wish to exclude candy but instead wanted to add another option of a safe alternative to be available,” states Becky Basalone of FACET.

Because of Becky Basalone and the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET), the entire food allergy community now has a common gesture to bring us all together. Thanks to the marketing muscle of Food Allergy Research & Education, the most amazing part of this campaign is that it has reached beyond our tight-knit food allergy community out to the general public. It has united neighborhoods, schools, and towns in a way no other food allergy movement has. From the farmer in Tennessee that decided to sell teal pumpkins, to my cousin in Ohio that chose to join in for no other reason but to support children with food allergies, this project has reached far and wide all in the name of inclusion.

“We want to raise awareness of food allergies and other dietary issues that may restrict/limit certain food products, like candy, due to health risk,” explains Becky. However, this project has become more than a campaign to raise awareness. It has made me us all a part of something much larger than ourselves. By putting out a teal pumpkin, we are sending a very clear message to all children: “WE CARE ABOUT YOU.” I cannot think of a better message can we send this Halloween.

To join the movement on facebook, click HERE.

For free flyers and posters visit Food Allergy Research and Education.

For a list of non-food rewards from Kids with Food Allergies, click here.

Tags: community, Connecticut, CT, FACET, FARE, Food Allergies in the Community, food allergy, inclusion, KFA, non-food, non-food rewards, quotes, Teal Pumpkin Project, treats
Posted in Blog, Food Allergies in the Community, In the News | No Comments »

BEST Resources for Managing Food Allergies in the School Setting

Monday, December 2nd, 2013 | Permalink

By Gina Mennett Lee, M.Ed.

Food Allergy Educator and Consultant

I have been reading and analyzing everything food allergy related for the past 8 years. From my perspective of both a food allergy advocate and a former teacher, here are the resource that I have found to be most helpful. All of these can be found under the “resources” section of my website.

FREE RESOURCES:

FAEN You Could Save a Life…Poster 8 x 11- (Great for Lunchrooms, Classrooms, Teachers’ Rooms)

Potential Allergens in Preschool and School Activities (Table of allergens found in craft and art supplies)

FREE Teaching Tools for Children:

Be A P.A.L. Program (Appropriate for teaching other children about food allergies. Ages PreK-8.)

Everyday Cool with Food Allergies (Appropriate for teaching children about their food allergies. Ages PreK-2.)

Hayden’s Food Allergy Video (Excellent video to teach other children about food allergies. Ages PreK-4.)

Suggested Books to Use as Teaching Tools for Children (PreK-3):

The BugaBees: Friends with Food Allergies by Amy Recob

The BugyBops: Friends for All Time by Amy Recob

Everyday Cool with Food Allergies by Dr. Michael Pistiner

The Princess and the Peanut Allergy by Wendy McClure

The Princess and the Peanut by Sue Ganz-Schmitt

The Peanut Free Café by Gloria Koster

Nutley: the Nut-Free Squirrel by Stephanie Sorkin

Alexander the Elephant Series from FARE

Allie the Allergic Elephant, Cody the Allergic Cow and Chad the Allergic Chipmunk

FREE Training Tools for School Employees:

AllergyReady.com (This is a free, interactive training tool for school personnel. It is very thorough and hits on almost all areas of food allergy management. Employees can print out proof of completion. It is created by a team of experts in the field of food allergies. )

AllergyHome ( This is an excellent website created by two pediatric allergists. There are many resources, all of them free. I provided a link to a free training module for school personnel. It is 30 minutes long and has a test at the end.)

The Food Allergy Book: What School Employees Need to Know (This is a simple, easy to understand guide from the National Education Association. It is appropriate for all school personnel. You can download it for free or order hard copies to distribute. You only pay for shipping.)

FREE Guides for Developing Policy:

Food Allergen Exposure in the School Setting (This is an excellent table to use when creating school-wide policy and/or when discussing individual accommodations. It is based on the new CDC guidelines and references the latest facts and research in the food allergy world.)

School Food Allergy Education Table (Age-appropriate food allergy education based on CDC guidelines)

Safe at School and Ready to Learn (From the National School Board Association- the checklist on pages 18-33 is especially helpful.)

Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergy in Schools and Early Care and Education Programs (From the Centers of Disease Control )

If there are resources you feel I’ve missed, please let me know.

Tags: allergies, allergyhome, anaphylaxis, be a p.a.l., Best, books, bugabees, CDC, FARE, food, food allergy, guidelines, KFA, NSBA, policy, posters, resources, schools
Posted in Blog, Food Allergies at School, Free Resources, Training Tools | 1 Comment »

Posts Tagged KFA

#WhereIsYourEpi Campaign Updates

Inclusion Means Everyone: The TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT

BEST Resources for Managing Food Allergies in the School Setting

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Mennett Lee-Food Allergy Consultant & Educator

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