Milpitas teen helps students with food allergies get treats, not tricks

Since he was 5 years old, Amari Sims has had to avoid peanuts, tree nuts and sesame, and he carries an EpiPen with him to school. In an effort to make trick-or-treating more inclusive for other children with food allergies, Sims, now 16, is spearheading the Teal Pumpkin Project within the Milpitas Unified School District.

“A teal pumpkin on a doorstep means that non-food treats are available for trick-or-treaters,” Sims wrote in his blog on the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) website. “Last year, I delivered teal pumpkins filled with non-food treats to 12 elementary and middle schools, two dentists and my pediatrician. I received positive feedback about how much it meant for students with food allergies to feel seen and be included.”

This feedback led Sims, who is the Associated Student Body president at Rancho Milpitas Middle School, to up his game this Halloween and take the effort nationwide.

“I am currently leading a Teen Advisory Group project focused on the Teal Pumpkin Project,” he wrote. “Our team of 22 teens is focused on distributing teal pumpkins in our communities, partnering with schools, libraries, YMCAs and local organizations with the goal of making Halloween safer and more inclusive for children with food allergies.”

Sims has been advocating for food allergy awareness for the past seven years with the support of his parents—particularly his dad, Diallo Sims, a science teacher in Milpitas Unified. He traveled to Washington, DC, to speak with federal lawmakers and hopes to influence legislation that would cap the costs of epinephrine medication and increase affordable access.

The teen is now trying to get on the next cycle of new bill proposals. His draft proposal is with the office of state Sen. Dave Cortese, waiting to be introduced.

Sims was rewarded for his efforts this Halloween with recognition from the school district and treats from CVS, the retail partner for the Teal Pumpkin Project.

“It has been incredibly inspiring to see how a simple teal pumpkin can create a Halloween experience where every single child feels included,” he wrote in his blog post.