Glen Ellyn Church Opens Pumpkin Patch; Funds Donated to DuPage PADS

GLEN ELLYN, IL -- With fall in full swing and Halloween just around the corner, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has announced that its annual Pumpkin Patch will be open now through Oct. 31.

"The Pumpkin Patch has been a tradition at St. Mark’s for a decade now, and transforms the outside of the church into a miniature pumpkin patch throughout October," said Father George Smith.

But the pumpkins have a purpose.

“These pumpkins come from Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers, an organization which contracts with Native American farmers in New Mexico to sell pumpkins through churches," Smith said.

More than 65 percent of all proceeds benefit the farmers directly, and St. Mark’s donates the remainder to DuPage PADS, according to the news release.

Last year St. Mark’s donated $7,521 to PADS through pumpkin sales, with a grand total of $54,500 donated to PADS over the last nine years. DuPage PADS provides interim and permanent housing and support services with the hope of ending homelessness.

The Pumpkin Patch is located on the lawn just outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, at 393 N. Main St. in downtown Glen Ellyn.

Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

On weekdays, customers pay inside the church from 9.a.m. until 5p.m. On evenings and weekends, volunteers staff the pumpkin patch stand and payment can be made at the patch, in person.

For more information, call the church at (630) 858-1020 or visit www.stmarksglenellyn.org.