Good time for kids does good for others

Beneath a white tent, Will Van Meter, 4, bent down to lift a pumpkin nearly three feet in circumference into a blue plastic wagon.

The orange gourd with smooth sides, nearly the size of his torso, was too heavy for the youngster from Evans, who needed his mother to do the heavy lifting.

"This is the one that has to be perfect for carving," said Will's mother, Christy Van Meter.

The Van Meters found their perfect pumpkin at the Pumpkins for a Purpose patch on the campus of Wesley United Methodist Church, located on North Belair Road.

Proceeds from the sale of pumpkins, assorted gourds and pansies will go toward the purchase of medical and school supplies for a village in Honduras, said Linda Jolley, an administrative assistant at Wesley.

The church's Honduras Outreach Team will take the supplies to the village during their mission trip to the central American country in July.

About 35 to 40 members of the church, who are paying their own way, will depart July 22 for Honduras and spend a week in the country.

"My goal this year is to sell $7,000 in pumpkins, and I'm real close," Jolley said.

Business has been steady, and the cooler weather is helping keep the pumpkins fresh, she said.

"Those 90-degree days are not good for pumpkins," Jolley said.

The patch is among others available in the county, including one at Marvin United Methodist Church off South Belair Road.

Marvin is also using the proceeds for a Honduras trip, planned for March 13, said Dorrie Garber, an office manager at the church.

Currently, the church has eight members slated to make the trip and is looking to add about 12 more, she said.

Wesley's patch is located on the front lawn of the church. The three large rows of pumpkins were delivered Tuesday by pumpkinsusa.com, a company that provides pumpkins for church fundraisers. About 20 members unloaded the delivery of thousands of pumpkins, Jolley said.

"This is the most pumpkins that I have seen anywhere," said Van Meter, who also came with her husband James and daughter Elayna, 4 months.

Children and families are encouraged to stop by, play, take pictures and pick up a pumpkin, Jolley said.

"It's worth every second of it when you see those children out there," Jolley said. "They like it here because it's off the road and they can turn the children loose."

The patch will remain open today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. Pumpkins range in price from 50 cents for miniatures to $15 for the largest gourds. Pansies cost $8 a flat or two for $15.