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The Northeast United Methodist Church (NEUMC), also known as the “Pumpkin Church,” has a pumpkin patch every year in October that raises money to help the church.<\/p>\n
This fundraiser was started 20 years ago by Fred Grooms, the youth director at the time, who needed to raise money to get a bus that would allow him to take his youth group on a ski trip. Once they raised the money, the church decided to continue the fundraiser in future years.<\/p>\n
NEUMC Youth and Children\u2019s Ministry Director Bonnie Riley said that the church gets the pumpkins on consignment from a farmer who grows them just for fundraisers. They send part of the money back to him, and they keep the other part of the money for the youth group at the church. The youth choose a different organization to give the money to every year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done a fresh water well in Africa. We\u2019ve bought school supplies for a school in Uganda. Flood buckets for hurricane victims. In 20 years, we\u2019ve given away almost $40,000,\u201d Riley said.<\/p>\n
Riley believes that this fundraiser gives the youth at the church the opportunity to reach out beyond themselves and give on a large scale.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe group in Uganda that we give to, they get to see the kids get the packages and the school supplies and be so excited over a backpack. That\u2019s like no big dealt to us but they get to see these kids dancing and giving thanks to us,\u201d Riley said.<\/p>\n
She says that there are a lot of volunteers that come to help out with the pumpkin patch.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s someone here ten hours a day. We take turns and take shifts,” Riley said. “The youth come out after school and on weekends and help quite a bit. But, this year I\u2019ve had great support with parents and youth and other church members who don\u2019t have a kid in the ministry, but enjoy it.”<\/p>\n
Riley expresses that this is great for the community because it\u2019s more than just a pumpkin. It\u2019s an opportunity to reach out to the community and create a local tradition.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I have people that go, ‘well I can buy a pumpkin at whatever grocery store.’ And I\u2019m like, ‘yeah you absolutely can,’ but you can\u2019t ride a hay pig and you can\u2019t get a picture taken like a scarecrow at a grocery store so it\u2019s more than just a pumpkin,\u201d Riley said.<\/p>\n
The NEUMC\u2019s pumpkin patch hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 2″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Bonnie-Riley_2.jpg”]<\/p>\n
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Bonnie Riley, NEUMC Youth and Children’s Ministry Director, is in charge of the pumpkin patch, and expressing how this event really benefits to those in need with their various projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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