Every year since 2004, we have received a shipment of 4,000 plus pumpkins that come all the way from Pumpkins USA in New Mexico to First Congregational Church, UCC, in Saugus, Mass.  From then until Halloween, October 31, we sell pumpkins to raise funds for our church's budget and to share with our community.  Here's a bit of the history of this nationwide fundraiser.

Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers began 32 years ago.  A farmer with some pumpkins (Richard Hamby) met a minister with a need for funds. The farmer agreed to let the church sell the pumpkins and they would share the proceeds. Thirty-one years later that church is still doing a Pumpkin Patch every October to fund their goals.

At first, Richard and Janice Hamby grew the pumpkins in different locations in the Carolinas and Georgia. Then in 1989, when Hurricane Hugo hit the east coast, their crop was destroyed. The following year, they entered into an agreement with the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) to grow pumpkins. They lease the land and grow their pumpkins on the Navajo Reservation. The Pumpkin Patch pays for the land lease on the reservation, seeds, cultivation, fertilization, pollenization, irrigation, labor, trucking, communication, etc.

Five years ago the Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers came to First Congregational Church as a youth group fundraiser. After much fun and success we are entering into our fifth year.

In these five years we have been able to fund youth activities at the church and have shared our success by donating over $5,000.00 to the local school PTO’s, the library, World Series Park and to make our church restrooms totally wheelchair accessible.

This fundraiser is a joint ministry of Pumpkins USA, our church, and YOU!  Local teens can get community service credits for helping us unload the truck and take a turn at our tables selling them.  We joyfully greet our neighbors who wait for this event all year.  We have even had a curious few try out our worship service.  God has been very good to us and we are so pleased to be able to give back.  Won't you come and be a part of this historic ministry?

Peace,
Rev. Martha Leahy