Allison
Manages: milk allergies
Act of Kindness: My daughter has incredible friends (and parents of friends) that in elementary and middle school made special menus for their children’s birthday parties that were ENTIRELY dairy-free — an ice cream sundae bar (all dairy-free ice creams and toppings!!), pancake party, taco station…and more. It was really meaningful for all of us.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @amgaetano
Alyssa
Manages: peanut allergies
Act of Kindness: When I first started dating my now-husband in high school, he completely stopped eating peanuts. Not because I asked him to — Just out of the kindness of his heart. Almost 13 years later and he still jokingly scoffs every time we see a Snickers or Reese’s commercial on TV! It makes me feel so seen 🥹
Follow me: on the Spokin app @alyssabauder + on Instagram @allthingsallergies
Amanda
Manages: peanut, tree nut, and soy allergies
Act of Kindness: My husband is always very on top of things and thoughtful when it comes to my allergies. When we go out to restaurants and order, even if he’s just the one getting food, he always says he has the same allergies as me. It makes me feel a lot more comfortable eating out in general, trying his food or even kissing him later on!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @amandasmith
Ankita
Manages: peanut allergies
Act of Kindness: There’s a Saravana Bhavan near me and the employees are so nice. They know exactly what’s on the menu so when I ask a question they can tell me immediately. Their kindness doesn’t extend to just allergies. I was sick recently and ordered online and requested a large size of something they usually have as a side. I said to just please add whatever charge they felt like was fair if they even were able to upsize. They not only upsized for me but they didn’t even charge me. Genuinely great people.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Xkita
Arielle
Manages: celiac and mango and kiwi allergies
Act of Kindness: My boyfriend has always been one of my biggest advocates when it comes to my celiac disease. One time, while we were on vacation, before we went out to eat, he called the restaurant himself to make sure they had gluten-free options and, more importantly, that they followed the proper protocols to prevent cross-contamination. It meant a lot to me that he took the initiative to make sure I could eat safely and enjoy the experience without having to worry.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @glutenfreegp + on Instagram @glutenfreegalpal
Audrey
Manages: peanut, tree nut, egg, shrimp, wheat, sesame, poppy, barley, chickpea, and pea allergies
Act of Kindness: During my first Friendsgiving potluck in college, my friends took extra care to make it allergy-friendly! One friend made a separate batch of gluten-free pasta just for me. It was amazing not having to worry about food and enjoy a special time with my friends! So grateful for them and it truly took the worry out of coming into college with food allergies
Follow me: on the Spokin app @audreycha + on Instagram @allaboutallergies
Ava
Manages: peanut, tree nut, dairy, egg, seafood and pea allergies
Act of Kindness: My parents always go above and beyond for me! They always make sure I have a safe allergy meal, and that it is a meal I love! For every vacation they always make sure my food is packed or we stay somewhere we can cook in a kitchen! I am so grateful to have such amazing parents!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @avaschleif
Cait
Manages: celiac
Act of Kindness: Two of my friends surprised me postpartum with all my favorite gluten-free bakery items from one of my favorite gluten-free bakeries in NYC (Modern Bread & Bagel!)
Follow me: on the Spokin app @gflongisland + on Instagram @glutenfree__longisland
Carlin
Manages: peanut allergies (peanut, tree nut, dairy, sesame, and shrimp allergies in college)
Act of Kindness: During my freshman year of college, my friends Madi and Meaghan had the go-to hangout room, complete with cubbies full of snacks. They learned about my allergies and kept safe snacks stocked just for me. They even started reading labels so they could find new snacks for me to have. I was so afraid that my allergies would make it hard to fit in when I got to college, but they made me feel seen, safe, and included, and they are still two of my best friends to this day
Follow me: on the Spokin app @carlinhanley, on Instagram @sweetlifeofcarlin, + on TikTok @sweetlifeofcarlin
Catherine
Manages: peanut, tree nut, dairy, and egg allergies
Act of Kindness: I was getting to know new friends at school in a new country and I had made tentative dinner plans with a group. My friend booked the reservation, and when I arrived, she told me that she had called in advance to make sure that they could accommodate my allergies and that I wouldn’t even have to worry. I felt so seen in this moment and like my allergies weren’t a burden to someone who really cared, and a lot of the anxiety that comes with trying a new restaurant was lifted instantly.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @catherinewalker, on Instagram @cook_it_up_catherine, + on TikTok @cookitupcatherine
Christina
Manages: celiac
Act of Kindness: I went to Costa Rica with Zaney Travel in 2022, and it was such a wonderful experience. As someone with celiac disease, Zane, Susi and Jose, our guides made such a difference in helping me feel safe and comfortable dining out throughout the trip. They were incredibly thoughtful, knowledgeable, and attentive to my gluten-free needs, which gave me so much peace of mind. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy the food and experience of Costa Rica without constantly worrying about getting sick. I’m so grateful for their care and attention!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @gflivingbk + on Instagram @glutenfreelivingatx
Danielle
Manages: milk allergies
Act of Kindness: My best friend went to the vegan bakery City Cakes for my birthday and got me a pumpkin roll that was dairy-free! It was so thoughtful.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Elledairyfree + on Instagram @Daniellebryanttt
Daphne
Manages: tree nut allergies
Act of Kindness: While I was on a trip with my family to NYC, I was having trouble finding a bagel spot that would be aware of cross-contamination. I messaged the Spokin ambassador group, and a few different people gave me safe spots they have been to!! I was able to check out one of the places, and as expected, they were great with allergies!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @daphlevy + on Instagram @daphsfoodfinds
Emily
Manages: peanut and tree nut allergies and celiac
Act of Kindness: Family who ordered me a completely allergy-friendly cake
Follow me: on the Spokin app @emsnutfreeeats + on Instagram @emsnutfreeeats
Emma
Manages: peanut and tree nut allergies
Act of Kindness: I was out to dinner with my fiancé, best friend, and her boyfriend. I told the waiter at the restaurant about my allergy before we ordered appetizers, but my friend’s boyfriend reminded the waiter when we ordered dinner. He doesn’t manage allergies or have family that does, so he was just truly looking out for me and it was very unexpected!!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @emmad28 + on Instagram @emmaneedsanepipen
Esha
Manages: oat allergies and celiac
Act of Kindness: I was at breakfast at a fancy hotel in New York City and wanted to order gluten-free toast, and asked if the bread was actually celiac safe without cross contact, with toasting. The server looked at me and said “why would anyone ever call bread gluten-free if it was going to be cross contaminated? We have a totally separate toaster for you.” It was the first time someone without celiac disease working in a restaurant addressed the insanity of “it’s gluten-free but not celiac safe.” I was in awe.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @gfreebasicb + on Instagram @glutenfreebasicb
Grace
Manages: celiac
Act of Kindness: For my 21st birthday, my mom knew I would want a cake but didn’t have many options near school. She bought a gluten-free cake at home and drove up to my college house so I would have a special cake.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @gcb114
Izzy
Manages: tree nut, sesame and salmon allergies
Act of Kindness: My fiance always goes out of his way to surprise me with allergy-friendly treats. Whether it’s from the donut pub or Funny Face, he always makes me feel so special and safe!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @izzytri12 + on Instagram @izzytrinin
Jeana
Manages: peanut, tree nut, milk, and sesame allergies
Act of Kindness: My son Aston loves Haggos Organic Tacos in Encinitas, California. Pedro knows Aston’s order when it comes in and always ensures he’s taken care of. Whenever I place the order, they say “Pedro knows him and is on it”! We never see Pedro because he’s back in the kitchen, but we are so grateful to him and Haggos for being one of the few places we feel safe eating out! Muchas Gracias, Pedro!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @JeanaZ + on Instagram @bewell.warrior
Jenna
Manages: dairy allergies
Act of Kindness: My friends planned a trip to Montana for one of our friend’s birthdays and made it entirely dairy-free so that I wouldn’t risk cross contact in the kitchen or feel unsafe while we stayed in a remote location. It meant so much to me that no one complained or made me feel like a burden. I’m so appreciative of the effort they put into making me feel safe and included
Follow me: on the Spokin app @jennatso + on Instagram @thefoodallergytherapist
Jessica
Manages: dairy allergies
Act of Kindness: The people at V&V Scratch Kitchen are the best! They go out of their way to accommodate people. We have such a great relationship with them now that if I give them advance notice, there will be dairy-free dessert waiting for my daughter. In fact, the chef who makes her desserts will even be baking her birthday cake this year! He’s so excited about it. I love seeing how kind and inclusive they are.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Punkinmama + on Instagram @Punkinmamapgh
Kelsey
Manages: peanut, tree nut, dairy, gluten, soy, shellfish, kiwi, and banana allergies
Act of Kindness: This weekend we were attending a party and another friend had stopped for coffee on the way. Someone later told us that she was about to order a peanut butter latte but changed her mind mid-order because she knew she’d be seeing me at the party. A completely unnecessary but beyond considerate and caring thing to do. Lucky to be surrounded with such special people.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @allergytravelr + on Instagram @allergytraveler
Kris
Manages: almond and stone fruit allergies and celiac
Act of Kindness: Last year during the Jewish New Year, my daughter was a freshman at college and was invited to her roommate’s house. I wasn’t sure how to handle things but thanks to social media, one follower suggested another follower and I reached out. The kind act of this fellow celiac mom was that she cooked food safely for my daughter and delivered it to my daughter’s roommate’s house so she could eat safely with the family. I was so incredibly touched.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @glutenfreewith3 + on Instagram @glutenfreewith3
Lauren
Manages: peanut, dairy, egg, soy, wheat, and sesame allergies
Act of Kindness: Brett (my fiancé) will order me food and call the restaurant and explain my allergies. It’s so nice to have someone do that for me and takes the mental load off sometimes! He also plans our travels and road trips around places I can eat and cooks me allergy-friendly dinners when I’m too tired to cook!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @lesswithlaur, on Instagram @lesswithlaur, + on TikTok @lesswithlaur
Lauren
Manages: peanut and tree nut allergies with oral allergy syndrome
Act of Kindness: On Norwegian Cruise Lines, the manager of one of the restaurants, Marc, was so beyond attentive to my allergies and hand delivered me my food every night. He also offered me the option to order from different restaurants on the ship ahead of time to ensure they were prepared safely. He remembered my allergies every time and made my dining experience so stress-free and fun! He was so kind and made me feel very cared for.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @laurenscotch1 + on Instagram @laurenscotch_
Lauren
Manages: celiac
Act of Kindness: My mother-in-law made me feel so supported and taken care of when I spent my first Christmas at her house with my husband and his family. She bought a whole new set of pots and pans to use for Christmas dinner, shared recipes and ingredient lists with me to make sure everything was safe, and made additional grocery store runs as needed to ensure I had enough gluten-free snacks throughout my stay. She was so accommodating and never made me feel like a burden for having celiac disease. I am so lucky I had and continue to have her support!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @againstthegrain + on Instagram @living.against.the.grain
Lindsay
Manages: tree nut allergies and celiac
Act of Kindness: Working in a corporate office can be difficult with food allergies, especially with catered lunches, random snacks, and surprise breakfasts that I never feel comfortable eating. One day, a coworker noticed I didn’t have any pastries and felt bad when others were “joking” about my allergies. The next day, he brought in Bubs Bakery for everyone to try, just for me! I still think about that small act of kindness because it’s the kind of thoughtfulness and inclusion the food allergy community doesn’t get often enough.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Lfrost5, on Instagram @Linds_Frost, + on TikTok @Lcfrosted
Lisa
Manages: peanut, pecan, shellfish, and garlic allergies
Act of Kindness: I had a gathering of women from my church in our home and they asked what foods can we be sure to avoid bringing. That simple. Making sure to keep my son safe and respectful of our home.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @foodallergypi, on Instagram @foodallergypi and @foodallergytalk, + on TikTok @foodallergypi
Lizzie
Manages: peanut allergies
Act of Kindness: Since our early days of dating, my now-husband has made me feel safe, seen, and supported. More than that, he has fostered a sense of adventure that I never knew I had. Between him calling every restaurant ahead of time and advocating on my behalf when in sticky situations, he extends kindness beyond any length I’ve experienced!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @lizziepic + on Instagram @the.good.vibes.teacher
Marlene
Manages: celiac disease and tree nut allergies
Act of Kindness: There aren’t many celiac-safe and nut-free restaurants close to my workplace. Elubia’s Kitchen in Isla Vista was closed, but they decided to open the restaurant just so our staff could have their Christmas lunch there. I really appreciated that effort and it made me feel really good to be able to eat as well.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @theglutengram + on Instagram @theglutengram
Maya
Manages: peanut, tree nut, dairy, egg, and chickpea allergies
Act of Kindness: When I joined my high school lacrosse team, I was new to the school and team, and worried about team bonding because I couldn’t eat anything everyone else was eating. Coach Kaytie cooked an allergy-friendly dinner just for me and her while everyone else had takeout, and after that she made sure there was always food for me at every team dinner. When I was too shy to speak up for myself, she spoke up for me, and it set the tone for my whole high school sports career. Happy World Kindness Day!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @mayajain234, on Instagram @allergieswithmaya, + on TikTok @mayajain234
Molly
Manages: celiac
Act of Kindness: My husband’s family is so amazing with providing safe gluten-free food for me! At every meal we share together, I am able to eat the same food as everyone else. They are the absolute best!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Mollys.gf.plate + on Instagram @Mollys.gf.plate
Natalie
Manages: egg allergies
Act of Kindness: My daughter got invited to her friend’s birthday party. Her friend’s Mom is aware of Penelope’s food allergies and asked me what pizza is safe for Penelope to eat. I told her Papa John’s and she told me that’s the pizza she would be ordering for the party so that Penelope can enjoy it with all the girls. I can’t even tell you how much that truly meant to me.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @nmarie + on Instagram @_natalie__marie_
Nora
Manages: tree nut allergies
Act of Kindness: When I was little, before every friend’s birthday party, my mom would take me to get a Tastykake so I didn’t feel left out when everyone at the party had cake! She made sure I felt included at the parties and it became a fun tradition!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @noraryan
Olivia
Manages: milk and egg allergies
Act of Kindness: Stacy always gets me an allergy-free cake slice from Crust Vegan Bakery or Abe’s Muffins from Whole Foods—when it’s not even my birthday! We celebrate a lot of people in my church’s community groups, and Stacy had always said that everyone should be able to enjoy cake growing up with food allergies and not being able to partake in many birthday cakes in school, it’s a blessing to be able to do so now.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @livwong + on Instagram @liv.ingwithallergies
Saira
Manages: sunflower seed allergies
Act of Kindness: When my family and I were in Mallorca, we did a paella cooking class with a woman named Patri. We communicated with her beforehand about my sister’s severe food allergies and my own, and she went out of her way to make sure everything was safe for us. She was so kind and welcoming and made sure we could fully participate and enjoy the experience without feeling like our allergies were an inconvenience.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @sairacampbell + on Instagram @sairacampbell
Sami
Manages: peanut, tree nut, dairy, egg, shellfish, wheat, and sweet potato allergies
Act of Kindness: The kind people at Runaway Cow in Chicago opened a whole new can of chocolate just so that my first ice cream cone could be dipped in chocolate without cross-contamination!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @samisafeeats, + on Instagram @samisafeeats
Sarah
Manages: celiac and tree nut and egg allergies
Act of Kindness: My daughter spent a lot of time at her best friend’s house growing up. Her mom had a section of the pantry dedicated to food that was safe for her to grab anytime she was over. That meant everything to my daughter and she still talks about it. So very kind.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @thedyercrew
Sky
Manages: peanut, tree nut, dairy, egg, wheat, and sesame allergies
Act of Kindness: One of my girl friends invited me over for a girls night with her to watch a movie. After me offering to bring food, she decided to instead to make something completely safe for me. She cleaned every single surface, utensils, and bought brand new seasonings to prevent any cross contact. Not only was this in itself incredible, the meal was DELICIOUS!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @skysnacks + on Instagram @skyyy_snacks
Stephanie
Manages: tree nut, mustard, canola oil, and flax seed allergies
Act of Kindness: When I think of kindness, Dr. Shah comes to mind. While my daughter Mallory was labeled “too allergic” to try OIT, Dr. Shah took on that challenge and helped Mallory complete OIT for eggs. His incredible bedside manner and kind disposition made the process less scary.
Follow me: on the Spokin app @stephsorkin + on Instagram @stephsorkin
Susie
Manages: peanut, pistachio and cashew allergies
Act of Kindness: We were at a restaurant in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico and there were a surprising amount of nuts on the menu that we didn’t expect and my daughter did a great job navigating but I could not help but jump in to triple check. The male server looked at me and said “tonight, I’m her mother” to indicate he had it and I didn’t need to worry. I almost wept. The name of the restaurant was Semillon!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @susie
Yael
Manages: peanut and tree nut allergies
Act of Kindness: While solo traveling in Costa Rica, I decided to sign up for a chocolate making food tour! I was really excited because I thought since we’d be making our own chocolate from scratch, it would be allergy-friendly. However, there were pre-made peanut butter chocolates for everyone to try, so I didn’t feel comfortable tasting any of it. I told the tour guide Jason about my allergies, and he was incredible! Within minutes, he had taken fresh chocolate and made me my own hot chocolate without any possibilities of cross contamination- even washing the utensils in front of me and showing me every step of the process! I felt so included and couldn’t have been more appreciative!!
Follow me: on the Spokin app @Yaelkara + on Instagram @Yaelkara
