Cochranites are invited to carve out a masterpiece for the Resident Pumpkin Walk at Bethany Cochrane Oct. 27 to celebrate the fall season and Halloween.
Bethany Cochrane’s third annual pumpkin carving event will see the residents of their facility carefully critique and judge the best carvings the town’s pumpkin-sculptors have to offer. After the tenants choose the best pumpkin, the winner is awarded a gift card and all carvings will decorate the front entrance for residents, family, and staff to enjoy.
When the event first started, COVID-19 restrictions prevented volunteers from entering the facility, so Bethany staff asked the community to donate pumpkins to put the event together. The coordinator of volunteer services, Jackie Shier, was surprised by the sheer turnout of carvings.
“The first year we had about 150 pumpkins, and I think for the second year we had about 120,” Shier said.
The amount of participation from schools and businesses in Cochrane has the residents of the Bethany looking forward to the creativity of the community every year.
“It’s a really fun event,” Shier said. “It’s a nice way to celebrate the turning of the seasons and for the residents to have an activity that they can get out and enjoy.”
Once completed, the jack-o’-lanterns are set up on tables inside the Bethany’s activity room. Residents are then given the opportunity to appreciate the artistic creations and vote for their favorite pumpkin.
“The residents love it,” Shier said. “They really enjoy having a chance to look at the carvings kids and families have done. It’s quite cute, they take it very seriously in judging and put a lot of thought in which one they think should be the winner.”
At the end of the event, the Bethany staff take all the pumpkins and donate them to a local chicken farm to minimize the amount of waste. In order to ensure the pumpkins are not wasted, the Bethany asks that participants not use glue or paint, so they can be accepted by the farm.
“The people who own chicken farm actually sent us pictures of the chickens eating the pumpkins,” Shier adds. “So, we blew up the pictures and put them up on display for the residents.
“A lot of the residents are past ranchers and farmers, so that’s fun for them to see the chickens enjoying the pumpkins.”
Shier extends an invitation to anyone interested in donating a pumpkin to drop them off at the Bethany Cochrane facility before Oct. 27. She also thanks the community for making this event possible.
“Thank you so much to the community for all the support they’ve shown to our residents in the past few years and we just really appreciate the community is willing to donate and think of our residents,” Shier said.
