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The Great Patch Of Orange

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By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: October 22, 2008

PLANT CITY - Unlike Linus, the faithful but repeatedly disappointed character in the "Peanuts" comic strip, children at First United Methodist Church of Plant City didn't have to wait for The Great Pumpkin.

A truckload of 2,000-plus pumpkins - great and small - arrived Oct. 9 as scheduled for the youth ministry's sale.

Gary Salzman, youth director at the downtown church, said benefits of the annual sale extend beyond the U.S. border.

Each year, the church buys the pumpkins - 1,186 large ones and 1,000 smaller ones in this season's initial shipment - from Navajo Indian farmers in Mexico.

Profits from the local sale finance the youth ministry's annual mission trip, he said.

Last spring break, 12 children and three adults spent a week assisting the needy of urban Jacksonville, Salzman said.

"But the greatest thing about this is the outreach to the community," he said. "It's a great way for our church to connect with lots of people."

Shawna Cook, director of the children's ministry, said members of the church's God Squad, the youth group and adults unloaded and arranged the pumpkins.

"It's really a group effort. It's just not possible without the help of the whole church," as the sale continues through Halloween.

Prices range from $1 for small pumpkins and $2 to $3 for average size, to as much as $18 to $20 for huge ones, Salzman said.

The pumpkin patch on the corner of Wheeler and Reynolds streets includes an area designed as an ideal background for festive fall photos, he added.

The patch is the church youth group's largest fundraiser of the year.

The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until Oct. 31.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433.

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