Pumpkin Patch Delivered To Santa Margarita Elementary

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — It was a Charlie Brown Halloween Pumpkin Patch for a Rancho Santa Margarita elementary school, Thursday, on National Pumpkin Day.

In a tradition that began in 2016 when the SMES pumpkin planting was destroyed by vandals, Orange County Sheriff's Department stepped in to save the day with a pumpkin donation from an area retailer. This year, deputies continued with pumpkins grown by inmates at the James A. Musick jail.

Gail Krause, OCSD community relations, told of the pumpkins and harvested from the Musick jail, nicknamed "the farm."

"Inmates grow various fruits and vegetables on that farm property," Krause said. "This year, they grew 150 pumpkins. It was the perfect amount to donate to the school."

Last year, the RSM school, the special education department students had planted seeds for pumpkins that were destroyed, according to Krause. "This year, the tradition was continued with the arrival of the pumpkins," she said. "A local Domino's Pizza also donated food for the day."

When Deputy Briceno told Rancho Santa Margarita Dove Canyon Domino's Pizza that he was doing the special event, they donated pizza for all attendees.

ASB Student leaders created the festive Charlie Brown backdrops, which decorated the 'pumpkin patch,' and tables were set up for kids to draw and decorate their pumpkins with the aid of the 5 deputies present. The deputies enjoyed the experience as much as the kids. Krause discussed one deputy who noticed a student who had a pair of sunglasses that matched his own.

"I have the same sunglasses," the deputy said, and handed over a gold badge to the student. "Now, see? We are the same. We have matching sunglasses and matching badges."

The student beamed, and enjoyed spending the rest of the time with his new buddy, eating pizza and decorating pumpkins just in time for Halloween.

Rancho Santa Margarita OCSD Photos