Although we live in divided times, this true story reflects the generosity of strangers who are over 300 miles apart.
For more than a decade, Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church (MCPC) in Topsham, Maine, has hosted an annual pumpkin patch. Two-thirds of profits return for ongoing pumpkin growing and harvesting on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, employing over 700 Navajo, Zuni and Pueblo people, and where the unemployment rate is over 40%. Another portion goes to the Indigenous peoples of Maine, and 25% helps sustain MCPC’s ministries.
In October 2022, five men from MCPC gathered to lay out old wooden pallets for MCPC’s 12th annual Pumpkin Patch. Hard work; the 4x4s, which were waterlogged, each weigh 35-50 pounds. By the end of the set-up, the volunteers, now in their late 60s, mid-late 70s, and 80s, were exhausted and concluded the “need to do something different!”
Lighter plastic pallets? New ones would cost $20-40 each, totaling between $2,500-$5,000 — plus $1,500 shipping. Our small church, with 75 members and friends, did not have the budget for such an expenditure.
Donated USED pallets? We contacted big box stores and local stores, but none had used plastic pallets to donate.
An internet search led to Polymer Solutions International (PSI), a large supplier of plastic pallets, and then email conversations with Marge (at PSI). We asked, “Might someone donate 125 pallets for us?” She suggested John Lee of Seoul Trading Market in Englewood, New Jersey. He offered to donate 125 used pallets if MCPC would pack and transport them, a distance of 350 miles between Englewood and Maine. Marge offered their company’s shipping rates, but MCPC’s budget did not have the estimated $1,500.
Another internet search revealed First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, New Jersey. They had a pumpkin patch and might understand our dilemma. Upon learning that our small church had no budget for its pallet project, Rev. Rich emailed: “Well, maybe we can help.”
Within a week, he sent this email: “Great news! I sent an email to our congregation and awoke this morning to emails and online contributions of $1,500 to cover the cost of shipping! The people were moved by the story of a small church in Maine struggling to hold a Pumpkin Patch that engaged the whole community, and they wanted to help.”
Unbelievable? No, a blessed connection between a generous congregation and a small church hundreds of miles away. Thus, a chain of 42 emails began between MCPC, the shipper and Marge to coordinate the packing and loading by Englewood volunteers.
On October 5, the 12-lb. pallets arrived in Maine. Two days later, the truck from Farmington, New Mexico, arrived, and 1,200 pumpkins were unloaded onto those new pallets.
Not a single pumpkin is wasted; local farmers collect the partially damaged or unsold pumpkins to be used as animal feed.
The willingness of the Englewood church to help MCPC was even more remarkable when it was later learned that the Englewood congregation was in the final phase of a major rebuild after their historic worship space was destroyed by a devastating fire in 2016.
The kindness of Marge at the plastic pallet company, PSI, was invaluable, as was the generosity of Mr. Lee of the Seoul Trading Market.
This small project is an inspirational example of the connectional nature of PC(USA) congregations, as well as the generosity of strangers. Additionally, the often-criticized “Corporate America” also came to the rescue.
This “adventure” could not help but strengthen the faith of all who were involved!
By Shirley and Richard Reese
