May is Awareness Month for food allergies, celiac disease, asthma and EoE. It’s a great time to educate others about these important diseases, which are too often misunderstood. For food allergy, the highlight of the month is Food Allergy Awareness Week, taking place May 12 to 18. Following are articles, posters and top nonprofit resources to help you in your educating efforts.
Allergic Living May Awareness Tools
Allergic Living Articles
To share with the Allergy Community:
Xolair and Food Allergies FAQ, featuring Dr. Robert Wood
Air Travel with Food Allergies Survey: From Anxiety to Crew Issues
Asthma Medications Guide: Tool for Optimizing Control
Calm, Cool and Ready to Epi in a Reaction
For the Community and Teachers:
Food Allergy and the Cafeteria: Inclusive Options
Food Allergy Bullying: Spotting It and Actions
Video: How to Manage Field Trips with Food Allergies
Ages and Stages of Food Allergy Management
Ask the Allergists for May Awareness
Should You Lie Down During An Anaphylactic Reaction?
Will a Child with Peanut Allergy React to Peas & Beans?
When Is There A Risk of an Airborne Food Allergy Reaction?
Is It Safe to Eat Calamari with a Shellfish Allergy?
See more expert Q&As here.
Nonprofits and May Awareness
From FARE
Food Allergy Research & Education has a theme this year of “food allergy allies and champions.” You can nominate someone as an ally or champion, plus you can take the pledge to be one yourself. Plus, by taking the pledge, your name may be among those shared as FARE promotes food allergy awareness on the famous Times Square billboard in New York City. It’s a highlight of Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW), May 12 to 18.
FARE says: “By signing the pledge, you become part of a powerful movement to raise awareness, advocate for change and innovation, and create a more inclusive community.”
This year, FARE also offers team fundraisers and has colorful “Allies and Champions” posters to download and share. And stay tuned for their theme days during FAAW.
From FAACT
For May awareness month, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection (FAACT) is running a campaign called #CelebratingTealMoments. FAACT has created an array of downloadable Facebook, X and Instagram graphics. They include social media covers and profile photos, which you’ll find here. FAACT asks that you use hashtags like #FoodAllergyAwarenessWeek, #FAAW and #KnowtheFAACTS.
May 12-18 – For Awareness Week, the nonprofit shares creative ideas to educate in this blog post. For teachers, don’t miss FAACT’s comprehensive Food Allergy Schools Curricula Program. FAACT says the free program can educate students on food allergens and safety, “while encouraging empathy for classmates with a food allergy.” For the college campus, they suggest raising awareness with this impactful food allergy safety poster.
From Red Sneakers For Oakley
May 20 – The Red Sneakers for Oakley (RSFO) foundation holds International Red Sneakers Day. Get out your red sneakers and help raise awareness of food allergies!
Participating is easy:
1. Take a photo of yourself in red sneakers/shoes, RSFO clothing, or anything red.
2. Post your photo on social media. RSFO suggests a caption that accomplishes any of: promoting food allergy awareness with a food allergy fact, shares a personal experience, or explains Oakley’s story and the seriousness of food allergies.
3. Use hashtags: #internationalredsneakersday, #redsneakersforoakley, #foodallergyawareness, #livlikeoaks.
4. Tag @redsneakersforoakley on Facebook and Instagram or @oakley_red on X (formerly Twitter).
See RSFO’s guide to May 20 awareness-raising here. Plus, read our article, featuring an interview with Merrill Debbs about the Red Sneakers’ expansion and latest initiatives.
From AAFA / Kids With Food Allergies
For May 2024, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) celebrates its 40th Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. They offer social media profile photos and graphics here. Some highlights of the month:
- May 6-10 is Air Quality Awareness Week, stressing the impact of climate change. May 7 is World Asthma Day, with the theme of “asthma education empowers”.
- May 12-18 For FAAW, visit AAFA’s Kids with Food Allergies website for fact sheets and images, and watch for their for their Ask the Allergist webinar.
- May 19-25 AAFA declares Type 2 inflammation Week: learn about this form of inflammation that drives asthma, eczema, food allergies and EoE (eosinophilic esophagitis).
- May 24 Remembrance Day – a day to honor those who’ve died of asthma or anaphylaxis.
- May 26-31 is AAFA’s Advocacy Week. AAFA will share actions to take to impact public policy, building on the advocacy that has put a price cap on many asthma inhalers.
From Allergy & Asthma Network
The Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN) is highlighting “14 Ways to Celebrate Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.” Advocacy efforts for May 2024 include:
- On asthma, petitioning Congress for the Elijah Cummings Act, which expands national asthma programs here. As well, for the Healthy at Home Act here.
- AAN webinars, including its “Black People Like Me” series, addressing disparities for the Black community living with allergic conditions.
- FAAW May 12-18 – raise awareness by eating free of the Top 9 allergens for one day this week. Tag AAN in social media at @AllergyAsthmaHQ to relate your experience.
- See more of AAN’s ’14 Ways’ programming here.
From Food Allergy Canada
Canada’s leading food allergy nonprofit is raising awareness during Food Allergy Awareness month, and using the hashtags #KnowItTreatIt and #AllergyAware in their campaign.
- See their Know It Treat It campaign for anaphylaxis awareness here. It includes a “share your story” contest with prizes.
- Food Allergy Canada says many Canadian landmarks are lighting up in teal for food allergy awareness. From the Confederation Building in Newfoundland to Toronto’s CN Tower, check for landmarks and dates here.
- Find Know It Treat It events here. These include expert webinars on clinical trials and using epinephrine.
From Beyond Celiac
The national nonprofit Beyond Celiac is honoring Celiac Awareness Month during the month of May. Highlights include:
- Month of May – Sign up for the Step Beyond Celiac 5K. Walk or run to raise funds for celiac disease research during awareness month. Learn how to set up your personal or team fundraiser here.
- May 22 – Don’t miss the evening Instagram live with 3 well-known gluten-free influencers.
- May 31 – Beyond Celiac hosts a virtual town hall on managing the psychosocial burdens of celiac disease. Register here.
- Get Celiac Awareness Month social media graphics here.
From APFED
The American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders has a full program of events to celebrate and raise awareness of eosinophil-associated diseases, including EoE.
- May 19-25 – It’s National Eosinophil Awareness Week! Check out APFED’s day-by-day calendar of suggested activities here. Plus, join APFED’s lighting campaign by urging a local landmark to light up in magenta for a day. (Scroll to see over 50 on the list so far.)
- May 18 – It’s World Eosinophilic Diseases Day. Wear magenta to raise awareness of eosinophil-associated diseases.
- Throughout week: show support of those who live with eosinophil-associated diseases in social media posts. Include the hashtags #NEAW and #EosAware.
