Emily Homan loved taking her children to community events with fun treats, but as a food-allergy mom, she often had to tell her kids they couldn’t safely enjoy them. Recognizing that many families faced the same challenge, she and several friends—also food-allergy moms—came together to fill this need by forming the ALEIA Project, a group dedicated to sharing information and support around childhood food allergies. This year, the Northland organization is taking a major step forward by partnering with the North Shore Scenic Railroad to provide Made Good Top-9-Allergen-Free cookies during the railroad’s popular holiday train ride and storytelling experience.

The Christmas City Express begins its’ annual four weekend run this Friday. It features a live performance of the heartwarming tale of a young girl riding a train on Christmas Eve to visit her grandparents in Duluth. The train gets trapped in a horrific snowstorm and the passengers, while safe, fear Christmas will be ruined. What the little girl and conductor do next saves Christmas for everyone and reminds us all why this time of year is so very special.

The train ride that follows features hot cocoa and cookies. “Our longtime sponsor, Super One Foods, provides the FREE cookies and, while we have always avoided nuts, totally allergy free alternatives were not available until now,” said Executive Director Ken Buehler. “Our new partnership with the nonprofit ALEIA Project now makes that possible.”

The ALEIA Project’s Erica Hanson said this is the first year they have expanded their educational outreach to include providing allergen free treats. The chocolate chip cookies are made without peanuts, tree nuts, soy, dairy, egg, sesame, wheat & gluten, fish and shellfish. They are also vegan. The railroad provides an alternative to cocoa with hot apple cider.

Christmas City Express runs the next four weekends on the North Shore Scenic Railroad, departing from the St. Louis County Depot in downtown Duluth.

Tickets and information can be found at www.duluthtrains.com.

Christmas City Express is sponsored by Super One Foods and WDIO/WIRT TV

In honor of National Food Allergy Awareness Month, the Northland 5K run/walk for Food Allergy was held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the Endion Station in Duluth, Minnesota. Year three of the event included a chip timed 5K on the Lakewalk, free kid fun run and activities, prizes and giveaways, allergy aware business products and information. Proceeds raised support food allergy awareness for local schools by creating resources and educational tools, educating staff and students, and building advocacy support groups.

“ALEIA Project’s mission is to create awareness and educational resources for the local Northland food allergy community”, states Emily Homan, President and Co-Founder of ALEIA Project. “All funds raised stay local. The purpose of this 5K run/walk is to bring people together, make connections and gather input for what our community needs to better serve those that manage food allergy.”

ALEIA Project was inspired by the experiences of 3 moms, who live in the Duluth and surrounding community, that currently live a food allergy lifestyle. Combined, the founders of ALEIA Project have 30+ years of food allergy navigation experience and collectively avoid 10+ foods between 5 of their 8 kids. In fact, the name ALEIA was inspired by those 5 children, using the first initial of each child’s name. It also refers to the core values of the organization: Advocacy, Lifestyle, Empowerment, Inclusion, Awareness.

In recognition of National Food Allergy Awareness Month, the ALEIA Project hosted the Northland 5K run/walk for Food Allergy on May 24, 2024, at Leif Erikson Park in Duluth, Minnesota. The event featured a chip-timed 5K on the Lakewalk, a free kids’ fun run, activities, prizes, and allergy-aware product showcases. Proceeds will support food allergy awareness in local schools by providing resources and education, and fostering advocacy groups.

Emily Homan, President and Co-Founder of ALEIA Project, emphasized the mission to create awareness and educational resources for the Northland food allergy community, noting that all funds raised remain local. The organization was founded by three mothers with extensive experience navigating food allergies, collectively avoiding over 10 foods among their children. The name “ALEIA” reflects the initials of their five children and embodies the organization’s core values: Advocacy, Lifestyle, Empowerment, Inclusion, and Awareness.

One of ALEIA Project’s initiatives is to support teachers and help keep schools safer, one classroom at a time. The Allergy Aware Classroom Kit will be used by the Hermantown Elementary School. ALEIA Project provided 40 classroom binders, 30 safe snack boxes as well as The Land of Can – Stay Healthy book series that will reside in the school library. The binder includes: information about what a food allergy is, how to respond, example letters to for teachers to edit and promote non-food treats all year long, a list of non-food rewards, special event check lists, a list of activities that could potentially contain allergens, classroom resources such as posters, information on how to prevent cross contact and the impact a food allergy can have on mental health. We look forward to the feedback from the staff and can’t wait to launch this at other local schools!

In honor of National Food Allergy Awareness Month, ALEIA Project hosted the Northland 5K run/walk for Food Allergy on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the Leif Erikson Park in Duluth, Minnesota. The event included a chip timed 5K on the Lakewalk, free kid fun run and activities, prizes and giveaways, allergy aware business products and information, and a visit from the Duluth Firefighter and EMT staff. Proceeds raised support food allergy awareness for local schools through the development of the Allergy Aware Classroom Kit, educating staff and students, and building advocacy support groups.

“ALEIA Project’s mission is to create awareness and educational resources for the local Northland food allergy community”, states Emily Homan, President and Co-Founder of ALEIA Project. “With the creation of this non-profit, all funds raised stay local. The purpose of this 5K run/walk is to bring people together, create awareness, make connections and gather input for what our community needs to better serve those that manage food allergy.”

In April and May 2023, ALEIA Project co-founders held 3 Community Education Classes in Hermantown/Proctor, Duluth and the Whole Foods Co-op. We explained what a food allergy is, what top-9 allergens are, the importance of reading every label every time, tips on how to manage daily life, what the signs of a reaction are and how to respond. Thankful for the opportunity to provide awareness and education to our community. We look forward to hosting more classes in the future.

ALEIA Project is participating in the 13^th annual Give to the Max giving event taking place this year starting on Monday, Nov. 1 and culminating on Thursday, Nov. 18. Give to the Max is a statewide giving event that raises millions each year for more than 6,000 causes across Minnesota and beyond. Considered Minnesota’s holiday for generosity, donors have given more than $225 million since the inaugural Give to the Max Day in 2009.

Please consider supporting ALEIA Project! Our primary initiatives include: food allergy educational programs, classroom resources for the PreK-12 schools and support groups for individuals of all ages.

DONATE HERE: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Aleia-Project

ALEIA Project had a great time at the Peace in Christ Trunk or Treat in Hermantown, Minnesota passing out a lot of non-food trinkets! Halloween can be a hard social holiday for those with food allergy.

Here are some tips for staying safe on Halloween:

1. Read the Label Every Time. Avoid treats that don’t have an ingredient label – even if it’s a familiar treat.
2. Always carry TWO (2) Epinehphrine Auto-Injectors.
3. Eat treats AFTER trick-or-treating
4. Focus on fun, not treats
5. Sort candy with the kids and look at labels
6. Consider swapping unsafe candy or treats with safe treats
7. Start a new tradition with the “Switch Witch” – leave treats for the witch at bedtime and swap them with safe treats or toys
8. Look for homes in your community that are on the safe treat list at www.tealpumpkinproject.org. Add your home to the list!

Ideas for fun, safe Halloween trinkets:

Parents, teachers, classroom parents, family and caregivers joined ALEIA Project for Back to School with Food Allergy Tips and conversation on September 15, 2022 at the YMCA in Hermantown, Minnesota. The goal is to bring community together to encourage and create awareness in support of those that have food allergy.

Download a Food Allergy Management Tips for Back to School Here!

Do you live in the Northland or MidWest where you have access to shop at a Super One Foods grocery store?

Do you shop for a special diet?

Are you a label reader?

ALEIA Project has partnered with SUPER ONE FOODS to find out what you need!

Please take a minute to complete the shopping survey below!

https://forms.gle/ayzemYegaaTi5Zrh9