Painting pumpkins teal for allergy-friendly treats

With Halloween just around the corner, trick-or-treating might spark some anxiety with parents of children with food allergies.

Children participating in an after-school program painted pumpkins teal Tuesday at the Kandiyohi County YMCA in Willmar as a part of the national Teal Pumpkin Project . The project encourages residents to place a teal pumpkin or have a teal pumpkin sign on their door-step to notify children and their guardians while trick-or-treating that there is an allergy-safe handout. The non-food treats are provided to allow any child to enjoy Halloween.

1/5: Amber Wiese, an advocate for the Teal Pumpkin Project, speaks to children Tuesday afternoon at the Kandiyohi County YMCA in Willmar about why they are painting their pumpkins teal. The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages residents to place a teal pumpkin or have a teal pumpkin sign on their door-step to notify children and their guardians while trick-or-treating that there is an allergy safe hand-out. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune

2/5: Sam Miller, 9, left, with Declan Johnson, paint pumpkins teal Tuesday afternoon at the Kandiyohi County YMCA in Willmar as a part of the national Teal Pumpkin Project. The project encourages residents to place a teal pumpkin or have a teal pumpkin sign on their door-step to notify children and their guardians while trick-or-treating that there is an allergy safe hand-out. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune

3/5: Teal pumpkins are put on a table to dry Tuesday afternoon at the Kandiyohi County YMCA in Willmar. Children a part of the after school program painted teal pumpkins for the Teal Pumpkin Project, which encourages residents to place a teal pumpkin or have a teal pumpkin sign on their door-step to notify children and their guardians while trick-or-treating that there is an allergy safe hand-out Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune

4/5: Manny Contreras, 7, paints a pumpkin teal Tuesday afternoon at the Kandiyohi County YMCA in Willmar as a part of the national Teal Pumpkin Project. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune

5/5: Children a part of the after-school program paint pumpkins teal Tuesday afternoon at the Kandiyohi County YMCA in Willmar as a part of the national Teal Pumpkin Project. The project encourages residents to place a teal pumpkin or have a teal pumpkin sign on their door-step to notify children and their guardians while trick-or-treating that there is an allergy safe hand-out. The non-food treats are provided to allow any child to enjoy Halloween. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune