Two children playing together in a sunny field
Peer Mentoring · Food Allergy Support

No Child Should Navigate Food Allergies Alone.

EpiPen Pals connects children living with food allergies to trained mentors who truly understand — because they've been there too.

What We Do

Connection changes everything.

When a child meets someone just a few steps ahead of them — someone who understands the anxiety, the routines, and the responsibility that comes with food allergies — it can change how they see themselves.

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Peer Mentoring

Children are matched with trained mentors who have lived experience with food allergies — creating authentic, meaningful connections built on real understanding.

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Family Support

We support not just children but their families — helping parents and guardians feel less alone in navigating the daily realities of food allergies.

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Building Confidence

Our program helps kids normalize conversations about allergies, build resilience, and thrive — at school, at parties, and in everyday life.

Ready to make a connection?

Whether you're a family seeking support or someone ready to give back, there's a place for you in EpiPen Pals.

Our Purpose

Our Mission

We believe every child deserves to feel confident, connected, and understood — regardless of their food allergies.

"To empower children living with food allergies through peer mentorship — building confidence, community, and connection one relationship at a time."
Why We Exist

More than just an EpiPen.

Managing food allergies is about far more than carrying medication. It's about navigating school lunches, birthday parties, and friendships — sometimes feeling different, anxious, or alone. EpiPen Pals was founded on the belief that lived experience is one of the most powerful tools for healing and growth.

Lived Experience

Our mentors have personally navigated food allergies. They don't just understand the facts — they understand the feeling.

Complementary Care

We are not a replacement for medical care or parental guidance. We are a complement — offering something only peers can provide.

Community First

We build lasting relationships that extend beyond a single conversation, creating a community where no child feels isolated.

Safety & Trust

All mentors are thoroughly screened and trained. Families can trust that every connection is safe, intentional, and supervised.

Accessibility

Our services are designed to be accessible to all families navigating food allergies, regardless of background or resources.

Child-Centered

Everything we do centers the child's experience — their voice, their pace, their comfort, their growth.

Our Story

Our Story

Founded by Derek and Emily — two people who believe deeply in the power of peer connection.

Meet the Founders

We've been there too.

Hi, we're Derek and Emily. We both know what it's like to live with food allergies — and we've seen how much they can shape a child's and their family's everyday life.

For many kids, managing anaphylaxis isn't just about carrying an EpiPen. It's about navigating school lunches, birthday parties, and friendships — sometimes feeling different or alone.

Because of Derek's personal experience with food allergies and Emily's experience with mentoring programs, we believe in the power that comes when a child meets someone just a few steps ahead of them — someone who truly understands the anxiety, the routines, and the responsibility.

That kind of connection can change how a child sees themselves. That's why we created EpiPen Pals.

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Introductory Video — Coming Soon

For Families

Get Support

If your child is living with food allergies, you don't have to figure it out alone. We're here to help.

How It Works

Getting started is simple.

Our matching process is designed to be easy for families, while ensuring every connection is safe, intentional, and meaningful.

1

Reach Out

Contact us through our form or email. Tell us a little about your child and what kind of support you're looking for.

2

Get Matched

We'll work to find a mentor who fits your child's age, background, and needs.

3

Connect

We facilitate a safe first introduction between your child and their mentor.

4

Grow Together

Watch your child gain confidence, community, and a lasting connection with someone who truly understands.

Ready to get started?

Reach out today and we'll be in touch within a few business days.

Give Back

Volunteer

If you've lived with food allergies and want to make a real difference in a child's life, we'd love to have you on our team. Mentoring is unpaid, but the impact is real.

Before You Apply

Mentor Requirements

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children in our program, all mentors must meet the following requirements before being matched.

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Personal experience with food allergies — You must have lived experience with food allergies or anaphylaxis. This is what makes EpiPen Pals mentoring unique and meaningful.
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Age 18 or older
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Time commitment — Specific hour and duration requirements are coming soon. If you have questions about availability or need to discuss exceptions, please reach out to us directly.
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Completion of all required training — All mentors must fully complete our screening and training process before being matched with a child.
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Background check — Conducted through Sterling Volunteers.
The Process

What to Expect

Our process is thorough because the children we serve deserve the very best. Here's a step-by-step look at what becoming a mentor looks like.

1

Interest Survey

Start by completing a brief interest survey. This helps us learn a little about you — your background with food allergies, your availability, and why you're interested in mentoring. There are no wrong answers; this is just the beginning of a conversation.

Start Your Application
2

Interview

We'll schedule a conversation with a member of our team to talk through your experience, motivations, and what you're hoping to offer as a mentor. This is also a great opportunity for you to ask us questions and get a fuller picture of what the role involves.

3

Background Check

All mentors are required to complete a background check through Sterling Volunteers. This is a standard step we take to protect the children in our program and ensure every mentor relationship is built on trust and safety.

4

Training

Before being matched, all mentors complete a series of required trainings. These are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to mentor safely and effectively.

Required

Child Protection Training

All mentors must complete two specific online modules through MBF Prevention Education:

  • Protecting Children from Child Sexual Abuse
  • Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

Follow the steps below to register and complete these modules on the MBF website:

1
Visit mbfpreventioneducation.org and create a free account.
2
When filling out your registration, use the details shown below. Enter Utah as your state, select Youth-Serving Organization as your user type, enter EpiPen Pals as your organization name, and Volunteer as your job title.
3
Complete the two required modules listed above. You can work at your own pace.
4
Save or screenshot your completion certificates — you'll need to share these with EpiPen Pals as proof of completion.

Example registration form:

MBF Registration Form Example
Coming Soon

EpiPen Pals-Specific Training

Training on EpiPen Pals program policies, expectations, and best practices for mentoring. Details coming soon.

Coming Soon

Digital Safety

Guidelines for safe and appropriate communication with mentees in digital settings. Details coming soon.

Coming Soon

Motivational Interviewing Basics

An introduction to communication techniques that help mentors have meaningful, supportive conversations with children. Details coming soon.

Coming Soon

Food Allergy Basics

Core knowledge about food allergies and anaphylaxis to help you mentor confidently and responsibly. Details coming soon.

5

Get Matched

Once you've completed all steps, we'll work to pair you with a child who is a good fit based on age, background, and needs. More details on the matching process and what comes next are coming soon.

Ready to make a difference?

Reach out and we'll send you the interest survey to get started.

Support Our Work

Donate

Your support helps us connect more children with the mentors who can make a real difference.

Why Give

Every dollar builds a connection.

EpiPen Pals is a nonprofit. Your donation helps us recruit and train mentors, develop our program, and reach more families across Utah and beyond.

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Donation portal coming soon.

In the meantime, reach out to us directly to learn how you can support EpiPen Pals.

Reach Out

Contact Us

Whether you're a family seeking support, a prospective mentor, or just curious about what we do — we'd love to hear from you.

Send a Message

Get in Touch

Other Ways to Reach Us

Contact Info

📧 Email

Follow Us

Not medical advice. EpiPen Pals provides peer mentoring and community support — not medical advice or emergency services. For medical concerns, always consult a qualified healthcare provider.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question? You might find your answer here. If not, don't hesitate to reach out.

EpiPen Pals is a peer mentoring nonprofit that connects children living with food allergies to trained mentors who have lived experience with food allergies themselves. Our goal is to build confidence, normalize conversations about allergies, and remind kids they're not alone.

No. EpiPen Pals is a peer mentoring program — not a medical service. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All mentoring relationships are meant to complement, not replace, guidance from parents, guardians, and healthcare providers.

More details on this are coming soon. Please reach out to us directly with any questions about participation costs.

All mentors go through a thorough application process that includes an interest survey, an interview, and a background check through Sterling Volunteers. They then complete a multi-part training program covering child protection, food allergy basics, digital safety, motivational interviewing, and EpiPen Pals-specific guidelines. We take the safety of the children in our program very seriously.

Mentors must be 18 or older and have personal lived experience with food allergies. They must be willing to complete our full screening and training process and commit to the program's time requirements.

More details on the specific age ranges we serve are coming soon. Please contact us if you have questions about whether your child is a good fit for the program.

EpiPen Pals is based in Utah. Details about service areas and whether virtual mentoring is available are coming soon.

The best first step is to contact us through our contact form or by emailing us directly. We'll follow up to learn more about your needs and walk you through the next steps.

Still have questions?

We'd love to hear from you.

Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: 2026

Welcome to EpiPen Pals. By accessing or using this website, you agree to the following Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use the site.

1. About EpiPen Pals

EpiPen Pals is a peer mentoring program designed to support children and families living with food allergies and anaphylaxis. Our services focus on education, shared experience, and emotional support through peer connections.

2. Not Medical Advice

The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only. EpiPen Pals does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or emergency services.

Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding food allergies, anaphylaxis, or medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website.

3. Peer Mentoring Disclaimer

Participation in EpiPen Pals involves peer mentoring and supportive conversations. Mentors are not acting as medical professionals, counselors, or emergency responders. Mentoring relationships are intended to complement — not replace — guidance from parents, guardians, healthcare providers, or schools.

4. Use of the Website

By using this website, you agree to:

  • Use the site for lawful and respectful purposes
  • Not misuse, disrupt, or attempt to gain unauthorized access to the site
  • Not submit false or misleading information

We reserve the right to restrict access to the website if these terms are violated.

5. Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, images, logos, and design elements, is the property of EpiPen Pals unless otherwise stated and is protected by applicable copyright laws.

6. External Links

This website may include links to third-party websites for additional information. EpiPen Pals is not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of external sites.

7. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the website constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us through the information provided on this website.

© 2026 EpiPen Pals. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 2026

1. Information We Collect

We may collect limited personal information that you voluntarily provide, such as:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Information submitted through contact or interest forms

We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal information or medical records through this website.

2. Information About Children

EpiPen Pals is designed to support children and families. Any information collected through this website is intended to be provided by parents or guardians, not children directly.

If you believe a child has submitted personal information without parental consent, please contact us and we will promptly remove it.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information collected to:

  • Respond to inquiries
  • Communicate about our program and services
  • Improve our website and outreach

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information.

4. Third-Party Services

We may use third-party tools (such as website hosting, form builders, or basic analytics) to help operate our website. These services may collect limited, non-identifying information in accordance with their own privacy policies.

EpiPen Pals is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites linked from our site.

5. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information submitted through our website. However, no method of online transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use basic cookies or analytics tools to understand general website traffic and usage. This information does not personally identify individual users.

You may adjust your browser settings to disable cookies if you prefer.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us through the information provided on this website.

© 2026 EpiPen Pals. All rights reserved.