West Hartford’s United Methodist Church will not have its traditional Pumpkin Patch in 2020.

By Ronni Newton

The lawn of the West Hartford United Methodist Church at the corner of New Britain Avenue and Berkshire Road will not be covered with a sea of orange pumpkins this year – another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizers announced Tuesday that the annual Pumpkin Patch will be suspended for 2020, but they expect it to return in 2021.

“The setup requires a lot of volunteers and logistically we do not feel there is a safe way of doing this,” church administration said.

A sign typically hangs over the Pumpkin Patch, declaring the fruits “Pumpkins with a Mission.”

Sales of the “pumpkins for a purpose,” an activity that has been taking place for 25 years, generally raises more than $10,000 a year to support local and national mission projects, including the United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth (UMARMY).

“One week a year a team of youth, young adults, and their adult mentors service people in need throughout the Northeast,” the church said. Donations are also made to assist local nonprofits.

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