Pumpkin Patch Hours and Events - Saturday 10-04 THRU 10/31

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This is where we get toot YOUR horn and share a little bit about all of the good that YOUR donation does. 

The Jacksonville Pumpkin Patch is hosted and managed by Isle of Faith United Methodist Church and was recently named No.1 for Outstanding Patch Appeal among the more than 800 churches across the country serviced by the supply company Pumpkins USA (click here for writeup). It is entirely volunteer run! Every person you come across working in the patch is volunteering their time in support of the good that comes from it. The patch has always been a free community event and we intend to keep it that way. The volunteers from Isle of Faith UMC are committed to sharing the love of Christ in their gifts, service and presence in the patch. We are here for you! Whether that's to help select the perfect pumpkin for your family, pray for your needs, clean up rotten squash or provide a friendly smile at an event, we want your experience to leave you feeling joy and love.

Isle of Faith UMC supports missions and ministries within Jacksonville and around the world. Every year, our mission team meets and selects which missions and ministries pumpkin donations are going to focus on. A set amount is then donated to those missions and the rest goes to support the other missions and ministries of the church. This is, of course, after we pay the pumpkin suppliers. In the past your donations have supported homeless rehabilitation in Jacksonville Beach, low income household families and Jacksonville, local youth and young adults, plans for a children's home in Jamaica, impoverished families in Angola, Africa, medical trips to the Dominican Republic, an initiative to wipe out Malaria across the world, Operation Christmas Child and many, many more! 

It is donations and volunteer hours from YOU that make this a success and spread love, the way we were taught to, around the world. Thank you! 

The good actually starts, right from the beginning of the process; getting the pumpkins. We are often asked where our pumpkins come from. They are shipped to us by a grower in New Mexico. In cooperation with the Navajo Nation, they grow 1,200 acres or approximately 2 square miles of pumpkins and employ over 700 Native Americans during our harvest months of September and October. They also have a full time off-season staff that is comprised of entirely Native Americans. This has a positive and lasting impact on a region with 42% unemployment. Additionally, pumpkins are non-GMO. Responsible agricultural practices mean that we provide a great product, which has less of an impact on the environment.

Again we thank you for your role in supporting this important ministry.