Pumpkins Benefit Youth, Children Programs

Seymour United Methodist Church is selling pumpkins for a good cause.
While driving down Chapman Hwy. it is hard to miss the Pumpkin Patch that is being held in front of the church.
The church is holding the pumpkin patch in conjunction with Pumpkin Patch U.S.A., a group that has a farm on a Navaho Indian Reservation in the four corners area.
“(Pumpkin Patch U.S.A.) works with all different denominations all throughout the United States and they ship us the pumpkins,” said Associate Pastor and Director of Youth at Seymour Methodist Church Rev. Darren Kitts. “It is kind of an honor system.
“It is on consignment, so whatever we sell, we give them their cut of the proceeds and we keep ours.”
The funds raised at the pumpkin patch are going to be used to help fund the Seymour Methodist’s Children and Youth programs.
“It is a really good fundraiser,” Kitts said. “Mainly we have volunteers and signs for publicity, and that is really the only funds and time we have involved.”
The pumpkin patch is open through Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
“We have had a really good response from the community,” Kitts said. “People are just noticing that we’re new so it is kind of a shock.”
As of Tuesday, the church had sold a little over $1,800 worth of pumpkins, Kitts added.
“What has encouraged me is the response from the community,” he said. “People like the idea of a pumpkin patch and they are coming in and thanking us for doing it.
“It gives us all a chance to meet the community here at our church.”
The pumpkin patch has a range of pumpkins from small ones for $0.50 each to large impressive pumpkins for $18 each. The pumpkin patch also offers gourds and a display area for families to take pictures.
Kitts said the pumpkin patch is definitely worth coming to after dark.
“It is really pretty at night,” he said. “The orange really pops, and of course you can’t go wrong with the color orange.”