Family fun day at Bay UMC's pumpkin patch Oct. 23

Jessi Ganyard and her dog, Abby, work in last year's pumpkin patch at Bay UMC.

Bay United Methodist Church youth will run a “Family Fun Patch Day” on Sunday, Oct. 23, from noon-6 p.m. at the church located at 29931 Lake Rd. in Bay Village. The event is free and open to the public and will feature tailgate trick-or-treating in the church parking lot from 12:30-1:30 p.m., and additional young children’s activities including face and mini-pumpkin painting, a jumpy house and a hay bale pyramid from noon-6 p.m. Children are welcome to come in costume.

The event will be held in conjunction with the church’s annual “Pumpkin Patch Sale,” with proceeds from pumpkins, baked goods and hot cider benefiting the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) – the church’s annual youth mission trip to Central Appalachia.

For the past 13 years, church teen and adult volunteers have traveled to Central Appalachia for a week each summer to make emergency repairs to the homes of families in need. Projects have ranged from roof and ceiling repairs to foundation and insulation work to building handicapped accessible bathrooms and ramps. In June 2011, 47 local ASP volunteers representing Bay Village, Avon Lake, Sheffield Lake, Lakewood, North Olmsted and University Heights helped make homes in Sunbright, Tenn., warmer, safer and drier through this volunteer service project.

Pumpkins for sale in the “Patch” represent an interesting variety of colors and textures – orange, green, white, smooth and bumpy. Prices are based on size. Interesting gourds and smaller pumpkins are also available for purchase. Additional donations are also accepted to support the mission trip. Pumpkin Patch sales continue through Sunday, Oct. 30, at the church. The “Patch” is open on the following days: Monday-Friday, 3:30-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Pumpkins are grown through Navajo Agricultural Products Industries and annual ASP pumpkin sales across the country also help the Navajo Indian farmers in New Mexico.