Pumpkins with Purpose

In addition to the Pumpkin Patch sale, the PFA helped to connect a philanthropic component to the Pumpkin Patch, all by happenstance. 

Pumpkin Patch Co-chairs Beth Smith and Laura Fierer noticed that Cedric Landrum, FWCD Security Officer and Baseball Coach, was taking the rotten pumpkins somewhere at the end of the day. Laura started talking to him one afternoon, and Cedric shared that his wife, Cynthia, was using our leftover pumpkins as art projects for her students. A former FWCD parent, Cynthia works at the Leadership Academy at Maude I. Logan Elementary, a public school in Fort Worth. “Laura and Beth told Coach Landrum that thanks to Central Market’s incredibly generous supply of pumpkins this year, we would have extras to share,” said Katie Semple, 2023-25 PFA President. 

Coach Landrum and Cynthia came to campus at the end of the event and took 40 unpainted pumpkins to her campus to distribute to her students. And as if one philanthropic gesture was not enough, Laura doubled down and took the remaining painted pumpkins to Hope Farm (a long-term leadership development program that guides at-risk boys without a positive male role model in their homes) for the kids to enjoy.

“I am especially proud of the philanthropic component that happened organically this year,” Katie said. “It may be the highlight of my two years as PFA President.  My true hope is this becomes a part of Pumpkin Patch in the years to come.”