MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — Sisters, the Halloween Parade is Saturday, and as promised, every piece of candy collected along the route will pass through our Candy Pre-Sorting Station before it goes home. This is a big lift. I need 30 volunteers, and I need them to bring their own swatches.
How It Works
1. At the end of the parade route, each child hands over their candy bag. Just for a moment. For coordination. 2. Volunteers sort every piece by wrapper: Approved (cream, gold, sage, white, kraft paper), Under Review (brown, “a soft red”) and Rehomed (orange, purple, anything holographic). 3. Approved candy goes back in the bag. Rehomed candy goes into a large basket in Blakely’s Range Rover, where it will be handled responsibly by the committee. 4. To make up the difference, each child receives a cream linen pouch of Jordan almonds.
A Note on the Almonds
Tinsley sourced 40 pounds of cream Jordan almonds from a confectioner in Charleston. They are beautiful. They photograph like pearls.
A test group of third graders tried them on Tuesday and gave us feedback. The feedback was “this is a rock,” “why is the candy a rock” and “I think my tooth moved.” We heard them! We are switching to the pastel almonds, but only the cream ones.
Nurse Jaden
Nurse Jaden met with us about food allergies. She asked that no candy be handed back without its ingredient label, that we never swap out anything a family packed for allergy reasons, and that we please not give five-year-olds almonds at all. Such a thoughtful perspective. We are adding a second pouch, with a label.
She also asked what happens to the rehomed candy. We said it is being rehomed. She asked where. We said “to the committee,” which is true.
Becca
Becca asked if the kids could just keep their candy, which is what they do at Southwest. We think it’s so brave that she always says what she thinks. Kinsley (me) asked if Southwest was a Montessori. Becca said, “It’s a public school. Two miles away.” Then she said, “ok.”
We gave Becca the Under Review bin, which is mostly Kit Kats. She’s going to be great at it.
Margaux will also run a Wellness Corner where children can trade any piece of candy for a sound bath. So far zero children have signed up, but three moms have, so it’s working.
UPDATE: Chad has asked to be put in charge of the Rehomed basket “for security.” He says he has a macro target for Saturday. We have declined. Blakely will be handling the basket personally, with Sloane, in the car.