Halloween has always been Katrina Fontaine鈥檚 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.

鈥淚鈥檓 really lucky, I鈥檓 able to eat candy and as a kid I was able to participate in trick-or-treating,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I know lots of families with similar conditions who haven鈥檛 had that ability.鈥�

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.

That鈥檚 why two years ago Fontaine started the 鈥淭eal Pumpkin鈥� 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 can鈥檛 work, says the campaign is a rewarding effort.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way for me to get involved in the community, and to try to make Hallowe鈥檈n a little more inclusive for children who might not be able to participate,鈥� 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 doesn鈥檛 want money to be a barrier for people to participate.

She says the response has been tremendous. She鈥檚 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)

鈥淚 think Rossland is a great community where this is something that is supported,鈥� she says. 鈥淧eople are quite health-conscious, and even if people don鈥檛 have those health issues, they still seem to understand the benefits of doing this project.鈥�

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 Hallowe鈥檈n back to them.

鈥淚t is hard for parents. It is really stressful and difficult to limit their children鈥檚 participating in something they know their children enjoy, but they know health-wise it鈥檚 not the best week for them.

鈥淎nd I think it鈥檚 difficult all around. The children can鈥檛 participate in the same way and the families can鈥檛 participate with other families the same way.

鈥淪o I think this is a great way for people, they don鈥檛 have to self-identify and kids are still able to participate.鈥�

Fontaine鈥檚 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.

鈥淭wo years ago I sort of did it last minute. I wasn鈥檛 feeling well at the time,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut a local physician, Dr. Laara Banner, said 鈥榠f you get the pumpkins, I鈥檒l get the people together鈥�. So we pulled it together in a couple of days.

鈥淪o we鈥檙e hoping that working a few more days in advance, a lot of families will benefit for sure.鈥�

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 it鈥檚 also not necessary to do so when everyone is offered the same options. Kids don鈥檛 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