School fundraisers involving food: What to do if your child has food allergies?

With school starting up, you know the fundraisers aren't far behind. We are already into week two of a magazine drive and it's only week three of school. Magazines aren't food related (although my problem with these is that I have more than I can read!). But later in the school year there are several other fundraising events that do involve selling or raffling off food. If you have a child with food allergies not only are they selling something that they can't even eat, but they are also feeling left out. I knew the food drives were coming, but I think I just pushed it out of my mind. But this blog post from Food Allergy Mama at Allergy Friendly, Family Friendly Food brought me back to reality that soon enough my son will be selling items he can't even eat.

How to handle selling food items that aren't allergy friendly:

1. If it's something that will be delivered directly to the buyer or can be delivered by me, I will leave it up to my son. We don't sell at our places of employment or to neighbors so only Grandma(s) and Grandpa(s) and a few Aunts and Uncles will be purchasing from us. This makes it easy for me to deliver anything that is bought and my son doesn't need to be around it. Anything that he would have to touch that contained his allergens would definitely not be sold by him.

2. Just by-pass the fundraiser altogether. This can be easier said than done when prizes are involved. My boys are on me every day to get in my magazine orders so they can get their junkie toy prize. It's unfortunate that some fundraisers dangle Wii's or Dippin' Dot machines (not allergy friendly and couldn't be in our home anyway) in front of children but it happens and children want the shiny prize (we could NEVER sell enough magazines to get either of those prizes). One family I know trumps this by not participating and giving each child $20.00 to go and buy a toy of their choice. It's actually cheaper than buying the magazines....believe me.

3. Like Allergy Mama suggested, talk to your school about selling something that IS allergy friendly or that doesn't involve food.

4. For more suggestions of safe and "green" items to sell, check out the blog post Green Up Your Schools Fundraising, from Non Toxic Kids.


How do you handle school fundraisers and raffles to items your children are allergic to? Do you have any suggestions of safe fundraising items to sell? Since my son is just in Kindergarten and this is new to us, I'd love to see how others have handled this in the past. Visit the WEGO Health Asthma and Allergy Community to join in the discussion or to start one of your own.