To the Editor:

What a great year we had!

I am once again so grateful of the way that Newtown has embraced the Great Pumpkin Challenge for its fourth year.

You carved 93 pumpkins and we raised $3,014 to benefit the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Paul Newman’s Camp that provides a different kind of healing for kids living with serious illnesses. For the first time, Zoe, who inspired the Great Pumpkin Challenge in 2011, was able to come to Main Street to see all of the pumpkins lit up with her sister Avery and her family.

This year, I had asked carvers to get creative and be bold when reaching out. In response, a local church expanded their carving party to not only their youth group, but to all members of the community. They told stories of the many seniors that attended the party. I was so happy to hear this because they connected with each other and had fun. That’s what this is all about!

The Great Pumpkin Challenge had another successful run this year, but we couldn’t have done it without the support from Castle Hill Farm, Mason’s Farmer’s Market, the Newtown Lions Club, Taylor Rental, The Newtown Bee, local church groups, the Newtown government and departments, pumpkin carving parties, my family, friends, teachers, trick-or-treaters, and of course, the carvers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Page

Great Pumpkin Challenge

14 Main Street, Newtown                    November 26, 2014