It's that time of year, again, where little ghosts and goblins (or Power Rangers and Dora the Explorers) go door-to-door bribing candy from their neighbors. Their empty threats of mischief yield sugary spoils of Smarties, Sweetarts, and the coveted Reece's Peanut Butter Cup. But some children can't participate like others. Food allergies and dietary restrictions once again remind these kids that they aren't like everyone else. And that sucks. The Teal Pumpkin Project aims to change that.

Boasting a hip tagline that "Teal is the New Orange," the Teal Pumpkin Project is a movement to provide small toys in lieu of candy so all children can participate in trick-or-treating. Parents of children with dietary restrictions can identify candy-free houses by simply seeing a teal pumpkin perched on neighbor's stoops. Most of these toys, like vampire fangs, glow sticks, or finger puppets, can be purchased in bulk from party stores, or consider the dollar store, where stickers, crayons, and bouncy balls come several to a pack. Being a Teal Pumpkin participant doesn't mean you have to nix the candy all together. It simply means you can provide an alternative for those kids who cannot have the candy.

Or, if you don't want to spend the money on tiny toys, use it as an opportunity to divest a bit, and give away your broken blender or your seashell collection. What?

Click here to learn how you can participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project, and give every child in Kalamazoo a chance to be a kid on Halloween.

Bonus Video: The Foundation for Excellence

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