A support group in Westchester County, New York, has come up with a great way to help kids talk about celiac disease. The group sends toy bears for visits with gluten-free children, to let them know they are not alone and help educate their friends and classmates.
The Westchester County Celiac Sprue Support Group will gladly dispatch one of its three Gluten-Free Traveling Bears (their names are Buckwheat, Quinoa, and Teff) for a three-day visit with your child anywhere in the U.S. The Gluten-Free Traveling Bears -- all named after safe gluten-free grain alternatives –- can only visit children on gluten-free diets. While the toy bear is visiting, your child can take it to school and to any local events he or she might attend. Parents, children, and teachers can plan special presentations for the class during the bear’s visit.
Each bear is sent with a backpack to carry it in, a disposable camera and games. Also included is basic information about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet, and recipes using that bear's special grain alternative.
Children can also visit the Westchester support group’s website to see maps that track the bears’ travels, pictures of places the bears have been, and letters from children the bears have visited.
Here are some of the comments posted on the group’s website by families who have hosted the bears:
“Right now, Buckwheat is visiting Second Grade. Today he will have GF snacks. . . at snack time. . . Apparently, yesterday he had an amazing day at school and got hugs from all the kids while answering questions about celiac disease.”
“My 9-year-old daughter, who is generally shy about her gluten intolerance, was very excited to receive Buckwheat and share him with her class. I also brought him to her sister's first grade class. . . In both classes many other children with different food sensitivities and/or allergies spoke up and said that they, too, had foods they couldn't eat. . . It seemed to be a bonding situation for these children as they all realized they aren't as different as they thought.”
The Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group requests a $25 donation for the bear’s visit. For more information and to download a request form, visit the group’s website.
