Allergy Awareness Policy
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Dear Grace Church Parishioners, The GraceWorks Oversight Committee asked the Vestry to explore a Church policy to address food allergy awareness for the safety of our congregants and the GraceWorks children. GraceWorks strives to be a nut-free environment (peanuts and tree nuts) for the safety of a growing number of nut-allergic students. As the sharing of space between GraceWorks and the Church grows (particularly in the common room), it's important for our Church to support GraceWorks' nut-free environment, also. GraceWorks shares space, games and toys with the Church community and the absence of a Grace Church allergy policy greatly increases the possibility for a nut-allergic child to have a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction.In addition, there are a number of Grace Church parishioners who have severe food allergies including nuts and other foods. Having an allergy awareness policy not only increases the safety for GraceWorks students but also for the larger Grace Church community. We ask your assistance in providing everyone with a safe environment while at Grace Church. If exposed to peanuts or other nuts a person allergic to these may develop a life-threatening allergic reaction requiring emergency medical treatment. Strict avoidance of peanut and nut products is the only way to prevent such a life threatening allergic reaction. To reduce the risk of exposure, Grace Church will be peanut and nut free, effective January 1, 2012. Therefore from January 1, 2012, please do not bring any peanut or nut-containing products to Grace Church. This includes snacks for coffee hour, individual snacks you might bring for yourself or your family, meals for Wednesday night suppers, etc. Examples of nut-containing foods are peanuts, walnuts, pine nuts, baked goods (nuts & oils) and cereals. A more complete listing with examples of peanut and tree-nuts and foods that may contain them can be founded posted in the kitchen. As noted, any exposure to peanuts or nuts through contact or ingestion can cause a severe reaction. In addition, if you, or a member of your family, has eaten peanut or nut-containing products prior to coming to Grace Church, please be sure everyone thoroughly washes their hands. We appreciate your support of these procedures. See the Grace Church Food Allergy Awareness Policy for more details. Nut-free Posters are in Wiles Hall, our kitchen, and various other rooms at Grace Church. If you have any questions, please talk to Carrie Cross, Peggy Kerans, Genita Johnson, Agnes Opara (Allergy Awareness Committee Members) or Linda Rogers or Branwen Smith-King (church wardens). Thank you, Grace Church Allergy Awareness Committee Grace Episcopal Church 60 High Street Medford, MA 02155 |
