On a gorgeous Saturday morning, a semi-trailer truck full of pumpkins made its grand arrival at Linwood’s Central United Methodist Church. At the corner of Shore Rd. and Central Ave., dozens of volunteers gathered to help unload all the pumpkins one by one, placing them on large stilts and tables. It is all part of the church’s annual pumpkin sale, a tradition that has grown significantly since its inception 22 years ago.
Mexico each fall. Photos by Steffen Klenk
Each fall, thousands of pumpkins are delivered to the Linwood congregation from Farmington, New Mexico, home to the Navajo Indian Reservation. There, more than 1,200 acres — approximately 2 square miles — of pumpkins are harvested between September and October. A portion of the proceeds from the annual sale supports the Navajo Nation co-op, with a remainder benefiting the ministries of Central United Methodist Church.
The sale runs from mid-September through Halloween, and is supported by a group of volunteers, many of whom come from the surrounding community.
Last weekend, up to 60 volunteers, made up of church members, community individuals and high school students, assisted in placing the pumpkins along the church grounds. Among the many volunteers included members of the Mainland Regional High School field hockey team.
Head Coach Erin Davis spoke of the importance of local involvement and support. “We love to give back to the community; any time that we’re able to get involved and help out we love to do so,” she said.
Whether you are looking for a pumpkin to carve, decorate or paint, you are sure to find what you need at Central United Methodist Church this fall. The annual Pumpkin Sale is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through the end of October — or until all pumpkins are sold. Friendly volunteers will be on hand to assist with any questions or to help with your purchase.
Central United Methodist Church is located at 5 Marvin Ave., at the corner of Shore Rd. in Linwood. For more information, please email office@cumcnj.org.
