Pastor Deb Frysinger

Pumpkins, pumpkins and more to come. That’s the word this week from Pastor Deb Frysinger, pastor of the First Community Congregational Church at 200 Leeland heights Blvd. in Lehigh Acres as she talked about the opening for the third year, of the church’s Pumpkin Patch.

A trailer load of all sizes of pumpkins arrived Saturday morning with about 50 volunteers from the church and others ready to unload the truck, a chore that took about two hours.

“There were 3,500 pumpkins of all sizes on that truck from a Navajo reservation in New Mexico and they really look good,” she said.

There have been stories in the national media this year about the shortage of pumpkins for the fall harvest. The reason is that the Midwest received a lot of rain which has hurt pumpkin farming, Frysinger said.

“It wasn’t that way in New Mexico. I talked to them and they said their pumpkins were fine because they received just enough rain,” Frysinger said.

If you drive by the church this week, the whole front lawn is filled with a few thousand pumpkins in all sizes, along with a variety of gourds, too. The whole yard is orange with hundreds of pumpkins piled on 115 pallets. There are volunteers from the selling the pumpkins and even loading them up in your car if you can’t lift one of the hefty ones.

“We really sell pumpkins fast,” Frysinger said. “Last year, we sold out within several days and were expecting a second load, but the driver from New Mexico said his rig was hijacked and the pumpkins never arrived here. That was a disappointment to many people here and to our church because the money we make on the pumpkins goes to support our soup kitchen, now open two days a week, our food giveaway to those in need and our bread handouts. Some of the money also went to missions for our young people.”

“They have told us already to expect a second trailer filled with pumpkins in about 10 days or so we are hoping we can keep the lawn filled to meet the demand from the public for the pumpkins,” she said.

As far as the church, it’s Pumpkin Month because of all the activities going on such as a pumpkin race, in different age categories, to see who can roll the pumpkin the fastest.

There will be a bounce house and other attractions for young and old at the church.

They planning breakfast on Saturday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. and are also offering flu shots to the public. Those who have Medicare get theirs with their coverage while others will pay $29 for the shot.

For the whole month, there will be a flea market from 8 to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

“You don’t want to mess a great breakfast only for $4 and you can get almost anything you want,” Frysinger said.

There are more than 20 very popular vendors participating in the weekend flea markets, she said.

On Oct. 15, the church will hold its Pumpkin Festival with lots of activities, including a hog roast to pumpkin rolling contests.

Then there is a German pumpkin cookout and it’s free. Frysinger said everything they serve has pumpkin in it, including goulash, soup and more. It will be served in the late afternoon of Oct. 15. The food is being prepared by the Australian German Pavilion Restaurant in Fort Myers.

Also on the 15th will be the New Day Music Ministries performing live in concert at the church. A love offering will be taken for the group. It will be a vocal presentation of the Gospel in songs and hymns in four-part harmony.

And on Oct. 21, the church will hold its Harvest Ham Dinner with scalloped potatoes, salad and dessert from 5 to 7 p.m., all for $8, not a bad deal, Frysinger says.

“And don’t forget our ‘Trunk or Treat’ on the 31st, the night of Halloween. All the children in Lehigh can come in costume and trick and treat out of the trunks of those who come to the church’s parking lot. It is a safe way to trick or treat,” she said.

“Parents don’t have to worry about their kids having fun in the church’s parking lot,” she said.

Frysinger said the people from the New Mexico Indian reservation are going to take photos on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. and put them up on a website.

But the big surprise is yet to come, Frysinger said laughing.

We’re inviting the whole church and friends in the community to a real wedding in the Pumpkin Patch. Sandra Brice and John Brown, members of the church who have known each other for 35 years are going to tie the knot in the midst of beautiful orange pumpkins.

“And we are going to have a Blessing of the Animals on the 15th, too, forgot to mention that. It is for pets and for youngsters who dress up in costume as pets. We’re going to say prayers over them.

Frysinger said the church’s soup kitchen is open two days a week now instead of one. She said the soup kitchen is open every Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“It’s a place to come and get a really good hot soup,” she said.

Then there is “Grandma Pumpkin,” who will go to some of the local schools tell pumpkin stories,” Frysinger said.

If you want a pumpkin for a jack-o-lantern or for decorate purposes or to make a pumpkin pie, Frysinger says you can’t beat the deal at the church.

“Our pumpkin prices are all below retail cost at the supermarkets.

“Oh, and I forgot, we’re having a jack-o-lantern carving contest on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. for all ages and we have some great prizes,” she said.

Overall, Frysinger said they serve between 5,000 and 6,000 people each month with free groceries, bread and meals at the soup kitchen.

“There is a great need for this service and we love helping others,” she said.

For more information about the activities this month, call 239-369-1615.