Four thousand large pumpkins are on their way to the Clifton Lutheran Church in Marblehead right now and will go on sale beginning Saturday afternoon, Sept. 20.
An additional 4,000 smaller gourds will also be arriving. They will all be spread on the church’s front lawn at 150 Humphrey St.
Clifton Lutheran has partnered with a Navajo reservation in New Mexico for 10 years to purchase pumpkins to support the indigenous people who live there.
Meanwhile, Clifton Lutheran will host its 10th annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Sept. 28, 1-4 p.m., with proceeds going to Mission of Hope International in Haiti. There will be games, food trucks, music, raffles and more.
MOHI provides medical and dental care, education and housing, and runs an orphanage.
“They have near 100% graduation rates and really high rates of post-secondary education (many of whom return to MOHI to teach and help run the program), in a country with dismal educational outcomes,” said Clifton Lutheran Pastor James Bixby. “The work they do is fantastic, and one of the few ways to help out in that country without intermediaries, bribes or other corruption involved.”
Bixby added: “There will be great opportunities for not only fun and family, but also to learn more about the ongoing crisis in Haiti, and what we can do.”
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
