Information for Friends with Allergies or Chemical Sensitivities

This page includes information about efforts to control air-born allergens and chemicals at the 2008 Gathering.

Personal use of Fragrance-Free Toiletries: All registrants are being encouraged to use fragrance-free toiletries. This request has been made via: the Advance Program, the website, and the confirmation letter/email that Friends receive after registering for the Gathering. This confirmation will also provide a link to list of specific recommended fragrance-free products.

Sale of Fragrance-Free Products: This year the Gathering Store will stock fragrance-free shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, hand lotion and deodorant.

Fragrance-Free Housing: Bedrooms and bathrooms in the fragrance-free housing cluster will be cleaned with fragrance-free products prior to our arrival. Fragrance-free air conditioned rooms will be in Willow. Willow was constructed in 2005. No major repainting has been done since then except for minor touch-up painting. No new carpets have been installed since then. If there is demand for fragrance-free housing without air conditioning, we will find a dorm that has not been remodeled, repainted or recarpeted in the last two years. To the extent possible, we will choose rooms not on the north side of buildings, and not on the ground floors (to minimize problems with mold and mildew).

Lawns: Pesticides will neither be applied in the week prior to our arrival nor during the Gathering. Fertilizer will be used on the athletic fields, but not on other lawns. If the weather permits, the lawn will not be mowed during the Gathering. (If Johnstown receives a lot of rain immediately prior to our arrival and they have been unable to mow, they may have to mow while we are on campus.)

Public Bathrooms: All bathrooms in non-residential buildings which will be cleaned with fragrance-free products, and will have fragrance-free soap. We do not yet know if the University will avoid use of bleach in these bathrooms.

Floor cleaning: No carpets will be shampooed during the Gathering, unless there is a spill.

Workshop Rooms: We have access to rooms with chalkboards, with whiteboards, and with flip charts. If you have a reaction to chalk dust or white board markers, please let us know when you register so we can place your workshop in an appropriate room.

Mold and Mildew: Unfortunately, we can not predict problems with mold and mildew. See “Fragrance-Free Housing” above for more.

(Updated 3.31.08)