ELMSDALE: Beautiful sunny skies and a steady stream of families helped make Shae Penney’s annual pumpkin patch fundraiser a success on Saturday, as the Riverview United Church parking lot was filled with fall fun and community spirit.
Held in support of the Caring & Sharing Angel Tree Food Bank, the Oct. 10 event offered families an opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of activities while giving back to an important community organization.
Children had plenty to keep them busy, with games and activities including a bean bag toss, sucker pull, pumpkin and gourd tic-tac-toe, and a fishing game.
Families could also pick out a free pumpkin and have their photos taken in a fall-themed setting.
There were prizes to be won, treat bags to enjoy and plenty of opportunities to make memories together.
Hot chocolate was also part of the fall festivities, making it a fitting addition to an afternoon that was sunny but a little on the chilly side.
ADVERTISEMENT:
For Penney, a realtor with Exit Real Estate Professionals, the event is about more than introducing herself to people in the community. It is also an opportunity to support a cause close to her heart.
“I think that it’s a fantastic turnout and I absolutely love to meet everybody,” Penney said. “I have so many people that came back this year. So that’s a big deal to me and the support is unmatched, honestly.”
Penney said she enjoys organizing the event as a way to grow her presence in the community while supporting the local food bank.
She encouraged attendees to bring either a cash donation or a non-perishable food item for Caring & Sharing. A collection was already growing as families arrived to take part in the activities.
“I always end up with a really great turnout for the food bank,” she said.
This year’s event also featured a couple of new additions designed with younger visitors in mind. Penney created the fishing game herself, putting in considerable work to build it, and introduced the pumpkin and gourd tic-tac-toe game.
She said the mini games are a fun attraction for children and one of the ways she hopes to keep the event fresh for returning families.
ADVERTISEMENT:
The strong turnout was especially encouraging for Penney, who said seeing familiar faces return year after year means a great deal to her.
The pumpkin patch has become an annual fall tradition in Elmsdale, bringing families together for a free afternoon of seasonal fun while helping collect much-needed support for the food bank.
As the afternoon unfolded at Riverview United Church, the combination of sunshine, pumpkins, games and community generosity made for another memorable gathering.
Penney thanked everyone who came out to support both the event and Caring & Sharing, as well as those who helped make the afternoon possible.
ADVERTISEMENT:
ADVERTISEMENT:
