A local church is trying to keep students from going hungry.
The United First Methodist Church in Harlingen holds a pumpkin patch as a fundraiser for their Backpack for Kids program.
The program sends 175 backpacks home with students from six elementary schools in Harlingen C.I.S.D.
The backpacks go home on Fridays full of food and are returned empty on Mondays.
The goal is to make sure students don’t go hungry over the weekend.
All the proceeds made at the patch help feed those students throughout the school year.
“Its a lot of volunteers, a lot of work, but we feel it’s our 8th year doing this and we continually try to add schools as we are able too with the pumpkin sales, and this year we even have a partnership with sun burst rotary club in Harlingen,” said JJ Wickey, Pastor.
Wickey says the program has grown and has allowed them to add their first middle school to the program this year. He hopes they can continue to add more schools and backpacks over time.
The pumpkin patch is located at 321 E. Harrison Ave in Harlingen and entrance is free. Pumpkins range in size and price.
