Summer is the perfect time to connect with neighbors, discover local organizations, and celebrate community at health and wellness fairs. For Allergy Advocates New York, these events are also an opportunity to help make our communities safer through education, awareness, and preparedness.
Our mission is simple: help more people recognize the signs of anaphylaxis and understand that epinephrine is the first-line treatment for severe allergic reactions. Every conversation we have at our table has the potential to prepare someone to respond confidently during a life-threatening emergency.
This summer, we're adding an extra layer of protection to our outreach efforts.
As Allergy Advocates New York travels to community events, we'll have a two-pack of non-patient-specific epinephrine auto-injectors available at our table. Whether someone is sampling foods from local vendors or encounters a bee while enjoying the festivities, we're prepared to respond should an unexpected anaphylactic emergency occur. While we hope these auto-injectors are never needed, having them available demonstrates our commitment to creating safer public spaces for everyone.
Our work goes beyond educating visitors who stop by our table. We also connect with fellow exhibitors representing healthcare organizations, nonprofits, schools, and community groups. These conversations often lead to future partnerships and training opportunities through Epi Near You New York (ENYNY), expanding the number of organizations prepared to recognize and respond to food allergy emergencies.
By building these relationships, we're strengthening a network of advocates and community partners who share one goal: ensuring not another life is lost to anaphylaxis because people didn't know what to do.
Come Visit Us This Summer
We'll be out and about at community events across New York this August, and we'd love to meet you.
Troy, NY — Saturday, August 8, 2026
We'll be participating in the Community Rising Project's 5th Annual Black August Cookout, held at Prospect Park, 65 Prospect Park Road, Troy, NY 12180, from 12:00–4:00 p.m. This annual community gathering celebrates five years of bringing people together to connect, learn, organize, and build stronger communities in the Capital Region. Hosted by the Community Rising Project, the event is rooted in the tradition of Black August and welcomes families, community organizations, and local partners for a day of connection and celebration.
Rochester, NY — Saturday, August 15, 2026
We'll be participating in the Black Physicians Network+ Community Health Fair, held at the Boys & Girls Club, 500 Genesee Street, from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. This annual event brings together healthcare professionals, community organizations, and families to promote health, wellness, and access to valuable resources.
Whether you're living with food allergies, caring for someone who is, representing a community organization, or simply interested in learning how to respond to an allergic emergency, we invite you to stop by. Together, we can create communities that are informed, prepared, and ready to save lives.
We're looking forward to seeing you while we're out and about this summer!
The photos included highlight some of our past community outreach and tabling events. We can't wait to make even more connections this year.
About the Author
Melissa Mueller-Douglas is the Project Manager for Allergy Advocates New York, allergy mom to two phenomenal kids, world traveler, volleyball player, and someone you can't catch imposter syndrome from because she doesn't have it.