MEL TOADVINE Picking out a pumpkin: Little Vegary Rossy, 3, daughter of Gary and Joan Rossy of Lehigh, picks out a pumpkin almost as large as she is at the Pumpkin Patch at the First Community Congregational United Church of Christ at 200 E. Leeland Heights Blvd.

The front lawn of the First community Congregational United Church of Christ at 200 E. Leeland Heights Blvd. in Lehigh Acres has turned into the annual Pumpkin Patch USA and hundreds of pumpkins, gourds and all kinds of things are for sale.

“This is an excellent time for people to buy their pumpkins for decorations, or making pies,” said Ada Thompson, a member of the church, who helps to head up the program.

The pumpkins arrived on Oct. 4 from a farm in the southwest and more are coming, Thompson said.

“We’ve got pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. We’re having things like face painting, story telling and group picture are being taken by appointment,” she said.

And after your family has selected the pumpkin or pumpkins it wants, you may be interested in their pumpkin pies, breads and cookies. Pick-up on these orders are Oct. 24 from 9 to 11 a.m., Thompson said.

A couple dozen volunteers from the church helped to unload the big truck that brought the first order of pumpkins, she said. “They took the pallets out front and formed the name of “Jesus” and then place the pumpkins on the pallets. We had someone get up high on the church roof and take a photo and you can read the name of Jesus,” she said.

The Pumpkin Patch USA is a lot of fun for children who flock the area for their favorite pumpkin after school and on weekends, Thompson said. She said many teachers have shown up and purchased the small pumpkins to decorate their classrooms for the fall season.

“Some of the kids can make jack-o-lanterns with their pumpkins. Others can be used as decoration either inside or outside your front entrance,” Thompson.

“It’s really beautiful to see the whole array of orange pumpkins from Joel Blvd.,” she said. “We’ve got a very large parking lot which will be used on Halloween on Oct. 31 when we have “Trunk or Treat” – that’s when the public can come out and hand out goodies to area children who can come in Halloween costume.

“We encourage parents to bring their children to our church parking lot and be safe,” she said.

“Just open your trunk and give the little children a treat,” she said.

The churches sees this as an excellent opportunity to offer a safe environment for all children in the community.

Afterwards, the family can have the experience of going to the church’s Fellowship Hall for food and games.

The church took up the Pumpkin Patch after it was given up by Christ United Methodist Church after it had been there for several years.

“It was a golden opportunity for us. It is a great way for us to raise money for our missions and for helping people in the community,” she said.

The Pumpkin Patch is open daily and there are volunteers under a tent to protect themselves from the hot rays of the sun who will help you pick a pumpkin and accept your money.

“Pumpkins are priced for everyone … you can get small ones for 25 cents or the very large ones for $25,” Thompson said.” And others are priced all in between.”

The Pumpkin Patch ends the month with a harvest dinner. This culminates the Pumpkin Patch festivities.

The date for the Harvest Dinner at the church is Oct. 30 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased the pumpkin patch. Carry-outs are also available, but reservations are necessary, Thompson said.

“We’ll get another load of pumpkins next week and they sell fast,” she said.

“And the best thing about dealing with the suppliers from the southwest is that we pay for only the pumpkins we sell. We don’t throw away any that are left. We use them for making pies and other items at the church,” Thompson said.

To make plans to buy any type of pumpkin baked goods, Thompson said you should call 369-1615 or make arrangements at the Pumpkin Patch.

In all, Thompson said the church gets 4,000 pumpkins delivered to them in two shipments.

Pump farm ranches in the southwest provide pumpkins for Pumpkin Patches USA in other locations in the country. They are mainly held on church grounds for fund-raising.