Although more than 6 million children in the United States have food allergies, many people still don’t understand what it’s like to manage them.

Each May since 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared May to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to teaching others about asthma and allergies to create more awareness and understanding. Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) is a division of AAFA.

May 12-18, 2019, is also Food Allergy Awareness Week. During this week, we focus on spreading information about what it’s like to manage food allergies and raise awareness about anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.

We also want to help people see beyond food allergies. This year, we aim to do just that through our theme, “More Than Food Allergies.” We want to tell people about food allergies, how they can affect your child and how we can all work together to overcome them – in ways both big and small.

Help us spread awareness during National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and Food Allergy Awareness Week. There are several ways you can get involved to help people see beyond your child’s food allergy.

Teach Others About Food Allergies

Social media is a great way to get the word out. We have food allergy awareness graphics and ready-to-tweet messages you can easily share throughout May.

During this week, KFA will be promoting food allergy awareness. Better food allergy awareness helps create more safe, inclusive classrooms and activities and helps reduce food allergy bullying. We have food allergy awareness graphics and messages for you to share as well.

When you share awareness messages, use the hashtag #morethanfoodallergies.

Be a Part of Our Photo Sharing Contest

We want to help people see beyond food allergies through photos. So be a part of our photo contest to tell us all about your child. Maybe they are a math whiz, dancer, future pilot or adventurer. We want to know what makes your child unique.

If your photo is chosen, you could win a prize pack with KFA gear and CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products to help create a healthier home.

The More Than Food Allergies Photo Sharing Contest runs May 12-18, 2019, during Food Allergy Awareness Week.

Take an Online Course

If you would like to know more about managing your child’s food allergies, take our free online course at aafa.org/learn. Your family and friends or your child’s caregivers can take the courses too. And if you or someone you know has asthma, we offer free courses on asthma management basics and severe asthma.

Participate in Research

When you play a role in research, experts can create better treatments based on what matters to your family and your child. Take this month to learn more about patient-centered research and join KFA’s online community to get alerts about upcoming research opportunities. Also consider joining a clinical trial near you.

Advocate for Children With Food Allergies

There are several ways you can take a stand for children with food allergies. One way is by letting lawmakers know we need more protections for people with food allergies. Join our online community to receive information on important issues like sesame labeling.

Support KFA’s Mission

KFA is dedicated to improving the day-to-day lives of families raising children with food allergies and empowering them to create a safe and healthy future for their children. You are part of that mission too. Your donations help make what we offer possible so families managing food allergies can live full lives. You can get involved in National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month by supporting KFA’s mission.

Think of how great it would be if everyone had a better understanding of food allergies. We could have more food allergy friendly classrooms and child care facilities. We could reduce food allergy bullying. We could have better legislation for food labeling. Join us this May in teaching others about food allergies while helping them see how we can all work together to overcome them.