Ohio Farmer Donates Pumpkins To Paterson Children
CLIFTON, NJ (WCBS 880) - The aftermath of Hurricane Irene is still being felt in New Jersey, especially on pumpkin farms.
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"It has been a horrible season for pumpkins," said Tammy Ryan, who runs Schultheis Farm in Clifton. "[This] is supposed to be a pumpkin patch, but it's just, you know, a lot of muck."
But, more than 400 miles away, Greg Clement runs Mapleside Farms in Brunswick, Ohio (which is in the Cleveland area).
See Also: The 7 Best Pumpkin Picking Locations In The Tri-State Area
"We actually have a record pumpkin crop this year," Clement told WCBS 880 reporter Alex Silverman.
Clement heard that North Jersey kids, some who've lost so much already, might have a pumpkin-less fall.
"We want to donate some of ours over there," he said.
Later this week, he'll hop in his truck, with the 2,000 pumpkins he can fit in it, and drive east.
He expects to arrive on Friday, and will, through Ryan and a program called City Green, distribute the pumpkins to Paterson children.
"I'm so grateful. It's so kind of somebody in Ohio to think about Paterson kids," said Ryan.
Clement knows just like Ryan does how much a pumpkin can mean.
"This one child who was developmentally delayed, she'd never said a word before that was appropriate and she picked up a pumpkin and she said 'pumpkin,'" Ryan said.
"To be able to give that memory or not interrupt that memory is very important," Clement said.
"The joy of Halloween and all of that jack-o-lantern cutting, I'm touched. I think it's really a beautiful thing," said Ryan.
Have you found anywhere in the Tri-State Area with a decent crop of pumpkins? Please share the location in the comments section below!
