Blackwater United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch

History:

Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers began 31 years ago when 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. There was no contract, no legal proceedings, just a handshake and trust in each other. Thirty-one years later, while the minister has moved on and the congregation has changed, that church is still doing a Pumpkin Patch every October to fund their goals.

Their success and loyalty allowed the company to offer the project to more churches. This partnership has been the key element in their growth. Today, the pumpkin patch family of churches and other non-profit organizations is made up of over 1,300 locations, over 30 denominations in 48 states, and is still growing.

This fundraising event not only helps our church and the Central community, but the Navajo Indians as well.  The Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) grows pumpkins. They lease over 2,000 acres on the Navajo Reservation, growing 28 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and corn, and employing over 1,000 Native Americans during the harvest season.

Our Pumpkin Patch mission is to impact lives one pumpkin at a time.  All proceeds from the sale of pumpkins go to missions that transform the Central Community and the world for Jesus Christ.