By Leslie Fuentes
Thanks to the efforts of Autumn Ridge Middle School seventh grader Jasey Roland, the State of Texas has officially proclaimed May 11–17 as Food Allergy Awareness Week.
Roland, a member of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto for the past three years, chose to advocate for food allergy awareness as her Girl Scout Silver Award project. The Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout cadette—grades 6 through 8—can earn. To receive the award, cadettes must identify an issue they care deeply about and create a lasting, sustainable solution.
For Jasey, the cause was personal. She lives with tree nut and peanut allergies and wanted to help others understand the daily challenges faced by those with food allergies.
“I hope that Food Allergy Awareness week becomes a time people recognize and mark on their calendars,” Jasey said. “It’s easy for others to overlook food allergies, but I hope this helps more people understand what those of us with allergies go through to stay safe.”
Jasey began planning her Silver Award project in sixth grade, determined to bring greater awareness to her community. Her journey included writing a letter to Governor Greg Abbott, requesting a statewide proclamation. With guidance from her mom, Shannon Roland, and inspiration from the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) website, Jasey crafted a letter that included her personal experiences and research on the impact of food allergies.
She emphasized how food allergies can limit access to safe, nutritious foods and often leave individuals feeling excluded.
Months later, in April, Jasey received a surprise in the mail: a proclamation signed by Governor Abbott officially recognizing May 11–17 as Food Allergy Awareness Week in Texas. The timing felt especially meaningful—her birthday falls within that week on May 16.
“To see her be so committed and dedicated for such a long time is commendable,” said her mom, Shannon. “She listened, she took action, and she stayed persistent. This is something historic for Texas, and it's part of her doing.”
The proclamation was just the cherry on top for Jasey’s initiative. To spread awareness locally, she encouraged her friends and family members to paint 120 reusable pumpkins the color teal—the official color symbolizing food allergy awareness, to distribute at a trunk-or-treat celebration—along with FARE informational flyers.
Thanks to Jasey's advocacy, more Texans will be thinking about food allergies this May—and hopefully for years to come.