It’s almost time for this year’s Pumpkin Run! This week, the staff and young people from the Armidale Youth Refuge and Tilbuster Station joined forces to complete the Pumpkin Run’s final harvest. This marks the end of months of work in the paddocks for our young people.
This year, the team planted over 8,000 seeds, resulting in one of our most successful crops to date. Despite the challenges faced in previous years, the team persevered, and with favourable weather conditions, they managed to harvest almost 10 tonnes of pumpkins!
What makes this year’s harvest even more special, is the widespread participation from young people across Pathfinders programs. From Armidale to Inverell, young people have contributed at every stage of the process – from planning and planting to weeding and harvesting.
The Pumpkin Run isn’t just about bringing in the harvest; it’s also a vital learning experience for our young participants. It highlights the stark reality of food poverty in Australia and emphasises the importance of extending a helping hand to those in need. Through this process, everyone learns the value of community service, empowering our young people to want to make a meaningful difference in their community.
In the weeks ahead, the team will be busy sorting and preparing the pumpkins for their journey down the coast. Over two weeks, many of our young volunteers will hit the road to personally deliver 10 tonnes of pumpkins to local charities and community groups. Along the way, they’ll stop at soup kitchens to offer their assistance. These dedicated volunteers will cap off the Pumpkin Run by rolling up their sleeves to help prepare meals for over 500 community members facing tough times in Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Taree, Newcastle, and Sydney.
