www.creativeladiesministry.com

[Valmomy]

I am not sure where to put this post, so I will hang it here! With food allergies becoming more and more commonplace, I was wondering if anyone here has had a creative idea for how to approach Covered Dish supper type ministry with those who have severe food allergies. I am the mom of a boy with SEVERE anaphylactic food allergies, and the covered dish suppers can be a heartbreaking event, even though they are SO MUCH FUN to most of us...In trying to plan dinners, fellowships, banquets..anything like that, have any of you ever faced that challenge? I have even tried to approach our board on becoming a NUT-FREE church, as much as possible (tongue in cheek! ) to see what the response would be. It wasn't so easy! LOL
This also affects our church nursery in a big way, regarding food allergies. I am the Cradle Ministry Coordinator as well as an allergy Mom, so I am dealing with this in my home, and ALSO in my church. We have had a recent addition to our list of ALLERGIC kids in our Cradle Department, so this is truly an every day situation for us/me.
We are coming up with some very creative ideas for ways to keep our little one safe in there, but I am SO curious to hear how all of you deal with such things, or if anyone even has had such a situation....
Love to hear your thought, words of wisdom, experiences, etc.
In HIS GRIP---
_________________
Fondly, Val

Jeremiah 29:11-14
GOD HAS A PLAN!

[Bramblerose]

Hi Val,

I don't have this problem. but a very dear friend does have a daughter with a severe peanut and soy allergy. The soy is especially hard as it is in so many products. They have moved away so I am not sure how she handles covered dish dinners and such. I know she did have an incident with her daughter in children's church where someone had something with peanut butter. All of the workers knew of her daughter's allergies and there were notices posted, but either they didn't realize it was as serious as it was or were just negligent. They did end up spending the evening in the ER, but thankfully she was ok. She hadn't ingested any, but just being near it or breathing it was enough to cause problems for her.

If I had a child with such severe allergies, I think for covered dish things I'd bring her own food or maybe partake of food from someone I knew and felt comfortable asking or confirming that it was ok. That reduces the "fun" of a covered dish dinner, I know. But I don't think you'd ever get the whole church to comply -- and even if most did, there would be someone who missed the annpuncement or some guest who didn't know. It;'s tough, I know!! I hope you'll get some good answers from ladies who have dealt with this firsthand.

[jodi]

My sister experienced this the hard way as a nursery worker. On her night to work the nursery a child brought M&M;'s. She as the only worker in the nursery with a newborn (which needed constant care) and several toddlers. When the child shared the M&M;'s my sister thought nothing of it and was just relieved they weren't fighting over them. At 11:30 that night she got a call from the mother asking what he had eaten in the nursery. Come to find out, the child has severe allergies, the worst of which is chocolate, so the child was sick. My sister felt absolutely terrible, but she had no way of knowing about this. That reinforced my belief that all nursery workers must be kept up to date of important issues such as these. If there were an allergy issue among our children I would consider banning all snacks during nursery time. Snacks are nice but not absolutely necessary, especially if there is the potential of danger to one of the children.
_________________
Jodi
Jer 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

[Prov31wannabe]

In nurseries, it should be mandatory that a child with severe allergies be "labeled"....a bracelet, a sticker...something!
Potlucks and such are different.
Short of bringing your own food for your child, I wonder if there IS anything you can do?
_________________
Colossians 1:27 ...."Christ in you, the hope of glory."

[creativ4]

Hi! I can relate. My 5 year old is allergic to peanuts. We've had more than a few nursery and junior church incidents. The last one wasn't bad because my daughter knows the taste of peanut butter now and when she tasted a cookie she knew not to eat anymore and told the teacher she couldn't have it. She's never had a severe reaction, mostly just breaks out in blotches but she's only had little tastes and the doctors had told us it could get much worse and affect her breathing, etc. She's only had tastes of peanut butter, never a straight peanut.

I do know what you mean about fellowships and covered dishes. I used to always make a kid cookie or dessert or something to take myself for fellowships as I hate it when my daughter would see a big plate heaping with yummy brownies or something she really wanted and she couldn't have any because of the peanuts sprinkled all over the tops.

I don't guess there's really a lot you can do but make people around aware of the fact that allergies exist. The more people that know, the more that might have a concern when they make something they bring to a fellowship.

I've run a few different church nurseries and I know it's difficult. Labeling is such a good idea, because so many kids do have allergies. Also educating the nursery workers too. Don't rely on them to take notice of the profiles of the kids tacked on a bulletin board because they only see that when they are in the nursery and probably too concerned with watching the kids than educating themselves about certain allergies. Type up a list of all kids with allergies or certain special needs and make sure you get one into the hands of all the nursery workers. I think being aware of the kids special needs should be one of the requirements for being a nursery worker. It should be right there with being on time, etc. etc.
_________________
Joy and blessings,
Julia

[Valmomy]

Thanks to all of you for your loving encouragement! All that you have mentioned is underway already...it is just so vital to be praying, and sharing with one another, and to walk in each other's shoes. It makes us more sensitive and understanding to the next sister-friend who will surely come along, and deal with a similar issue. I am AMAZED at who the Lord will put in my path.
My son is anaphylacticly allergic to all nuts, legumes, poultry (could die from), and also strongly allergic to potatos, melon, orange, strawberry, and corn. I cannot explain the difficulty, but even more, I cannot explain and wrap my mind around God's tender mercy, and support every breathing moment! He amazes me EVERY DAY I will jsut accept His gift with a smile and a tear, knowing I sure don't deserve it. My DS, who is 12, battles wondering why God has allowed this to happen to him. So, above and beyond his physical challenge and disabilites, I pray for his spirit--his faith, and that he would have a close walk with Jesus that would carry hims traight over those pitfalls. He wears an emergency bracelet, carries epi-pen and Benadryl everywhere he goes, and feels like a freak. My prayer is that he would dare to be different..blending is dangerous physically as well as spiritually. He is a moral obedient boy, but he doesn't seem to have ultimate peace. Anyway, as far as the church dinners, they are perhaps the hardest of all things for him. Here we are at what should be the sweetest of fellowships with our church family, and he is under assault (in his mind). He cannot even touch the things I mentioned above (the anaphylactic ones). We bring his food in a lunchbox, but honestly, it is almost too stressful to bear. The Lord sent a best frien to him who watches out for him and supports him, and contrary to what I would have EVER allowed for my older 3 children, I let them eat and leave to run around outside, away from the stress. I have learned so much about flexibility through my son, who is such a special gift from God. My love for him is so feirce and protective, due to the circumstances. Althought here are special people in our church who take it upon themselves to know and understand Mikey's allergies, there are also those who think its no big deal. I choose to concentrate on the former! I blame ignorance. If you do not HAVE to understand the situation, I find that it is very difficult to deal with and accept. I consider myself ultimately prepared for the up and coming little ones who are more and more allergic to foods, as an epidemic almost.
AS far as the church nursery--WOW, we have just begun following a new protocol, which is AWESOME! Because I am referred to as "allergy MOMMA" , which is fine with me!, I am being used to put this protocol into action, through my position as Cradle Coordinator. I am thrilled to be working on it, but obviously, not thrilled that these little babies have this condition. Its a very odd circumstance, but I am seeking to find the way to serve the Lord in it all. We are using white boards, with kids/allergies listed, we are insisting upon crackers in this nursery that are MILK and EGG free (WallMart, 97 cents~!), the little one is labeled with a tag or t-shirt (on his little back, for safety), and there is a guardian placed in the nursery to have charge of him alone--his little bodyguard! All these things will provide safety for the baby,as well as allow the parents to go to SERVICE, which they have not felt comfortable doing with him left in the nursery. One of the nursery workers had drunk a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee, and tossed the foam cup in the garbage. The little one grabbed the cup in an instant later, and put it to his mouth, and broke out in hives that moment. He cannot even touch milk. That is how my son is with nuts and legumes (peanuts, beans, peas, etc). ITS SO FAST! And with each reaction, the NEXT reaction can potentially be even worse.
I thank you so much for letting me share this here...I pray that it helps all of you in ministry (as well as in the calling of mommyhood!).
Julia, I am available in ANY capacity to share with ANYONE on the issue of lving with severe food allergies. It is going to continue to arise in all areas of ministry...Talking through these ideas of safety and protection are is SO helpful! Have a wonderful day!
_________________
Fondly, Val

Jeremiah 29:11-14
GOD HAS A PLAN!

[Bramblerose]