Family fun combines with an opportunity to help the hungry this Saturday, Oct. 19, at the second annual Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce free Pumpkin Pick and Paint.
Designed for children ages 12 and under, the event runs from 1-3 p.m. at Triangle Park, located at the corner of Horseblock Road and Woodycrest Drive. Admission is provided free of charge through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses and each child will be able to take home a pumpkin and painting kit.
“We made it our mission to connect the community to business and business to the community,” Chamber President Michael Wentz said. “And so, we always look to have events that give back and enhance the lives of our community members. And we were able to do that with the generosity of our local businesses.”
Wentz anticipates that good weather will draw a crowd, so the Chamber is working to provide 300 pumpkins—up from 200 last year when the event “had a very large turnout and that was with inclement weather.” Held rain or shine, the event takes place in a field adjacent to Triangle Park, where children and their families can stroll through a display of pumpkins and select their favorites.
Pumpkins will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so the Chamber encourages visitors to be punctual. Children also go home with free goodie bags and paint to turn their pumpkins into one-of-a-kind art. The Chamber invites children to share photos of their artistry on social media and tag the Chamber of Commerce.
Besides taking advantage of fall’s beauty and bounty, the activity also teaches children a lesson in giving back.
“We're asking people to bring nonperishable items, and we're going to be giving back to a food pantry,” Wentz said. “This provides an experience for children to learn that you can give food and not expect something in return. It teaches and instills values within families.”
According to Went, the Interface program at the town hall will receive much-needed support for its pantry through this initiative, marking the program's first time as a recipient of such assistance.
Meanwhile, the pumpkins are also the result of community generosity with donors including ShopRite, Stop & Shop, and The Poolsmith Inc., according to Wentz.
Started by Wentz and two other board members in 2011, the Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce is a relatively new organization. “Anytime there is an event like this, we bring awareness to our organization,” Wentz said, noting scholarships and a well-attended annual street fair among its endeavors.
For more information, visit the Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.