Nearly 21 million people, or 7 percent of Americans, have diabetes. Of those, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation estimates, 3 million have type 1 diabetes, which typically strikes in childhood or adolescence and lasts a lifetime.

For years, Boscov’s department stores have offered children with diabetes a way to get in on the Halloween fun without the worry of health consequences.

In conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the department store chain allows children with diabetes to exchange their Halloween candy stash for a $10 Boscov’s gift card.

“It’s really neat because the parents are so grateful that their kids have something else to do with the holiday other than candy,” said Tara Gabrielli, public relations manager for the York and Lancaster Boscov’s locations, where about 50 children show up every year at both stores to make the trade.

Here’s how it works: Parents of children with diabetes under age 15 can clip a registration form from Boscov’s newspaper ads or call Boscov’s to request one. Fill out the form, including the name of your child’s physician, and get it back to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Harrisburg before Halloween.

Then children just need to collect candy that can be exchanged at any Boscov’s location for a gift card between Oct. 28 and Nov. 5.

“And if the child is too young or too sick to collect candy, they can still register and then just come in and get a gift card,” Gabrielli said. “It’s exciting giving the kids the gift cards so they can buy a toy or new school clothes. Their faces just light up. It’s adorable.”

Candy collected at all Boscov’s locations is donated to nonprofit groups for their Halloween celebrations.

Dr. Aaron Kowalski, scientific program manager for Juveline Diabetes Research Foundation, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was a child. He remembers it being a tough time for him and his brother, who also was diagnosed.

“It’s hard to watch other kids tear into sacks of candy. But with a little preplanning, our parents managed to make the holiday more fun for us,” he said in the organization’s “Halloween: A Survival Guide for Parents,” a publication that offers holiday tips for parents of children with diabetes.

Kowalski said his parents made a point to let neighbors know about their diabetes so they could offer them something other than sugary treats. The guide also recommends parents tell teachers and school health officials about their child’s diabetes before Halloween celebrations begin.

And if you do keep some of those sweets from trick-or-treating, take an inventory of what there is and let your child take only a few pieces at a time.


For more information about diabetes, including a sizable chart of carbohydrate values for common candies, visit jdrf.org or call (800) 533-CURE.

And for more information about the Boscov’s candy exchange or to request a registration form, call the store at 299-0911 and ask for the courtesy desk at extension 1278. blog comments powered by Disqus