Fountain Inn Trinity

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This letter is to inform you that we have a young member who has a life-threatening food allergy to peanuts. The food allergy is severe and exposure in any form (skin contact, ingestion, or exposure through airborne particles) to this substance could result in anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal condition that requires immediate medical attention. Two incidents of exposure recently happened on our campus or at a church sponsored activity.

As many as 15 million Americans have food allergies – 4% of adults in the US and 8% of children. Eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, and pistachios), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Peanut and tree nut allergies comprise the largest percentage and present unique risk (as detailed below). For these reasons, as Pastor of Trinity UMC, I covenant to work with you and our church leadership to eliminate all peanuts/tree nuts from our campus, events and outings with the exception of the James Monroe Mission House.

For the safety of all, I am asking for each of you to covenant with me and with one another by immediately instituting a no peanut and no tree nut policy (or any food source containing these ingredients) on our campus and for any events or activities on or off campus. I am asking everyone, including parents/guardians to be conscientious in the selection of snacks that you or your child or youth brings to our campus or to activities in an attempt to limit the chances of this young member being exposed to peanuts in some form. Please verify that any purchased or prepared food brought in for meals or snacks are nut free. Please instruct others, including your child or youth to watch out for the safety of their peers by being aware of this policy.

We know that this may cause some inconvenience. However, Jesus said, “When you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.” He also said to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 “That there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.”

Thank you in advance for making our campus a safe and healthy place for everyone, especially our children and youth. By working together, we can make a difference. I commit to working with you, parents/guardians and church leadership to develop a formal policy in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I ask for your understanding and cooperation as we journey to keep our young ones safe. (Please see some important FAACTS below or on the back of this letter.)

God’s Peace and Love,

Rev. Murray Snow

February 1, 2020

Food Allergy Basics

• Food allergies affect as many as 32 million Americans, including 6 million children.
• A food allergy is an immune system response to a food the body mistakenly believes is harmful.
• When a person with food allergy eats the food, his or her immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, that trigger a cascade of symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, and/or the cardiovascular system.
• There is no cure for food allergies.
• The prevalence of food allergies appears to be increasing among children under the age of 18, that is 2 students in every classroom.
• Although food allergy desensitizations are being studied, these are not yet proven treatments, so strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.
• Managing a food allergy on a daily basis involves constant vigilance.
• Trace amounts of an allergen can trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals.
• Unfortunately, food allergy deaths do occur, even among persons with a history of mild reactions in the past.
• 9-1-1 must ALWAYS be called with every anaphylactic reaction.

For more info concerning food allergies:

https://www.foodallergyawareness.org/food-allergy-and-anaphylaxis/