November 1, 2006

Packard Hospital nets large donation from Pumpkin Patch

By Carol Rosen
Editor

There were no hobgoblins, ghosts or scary creatures at this year’s 34th annual Pumpkin Patch, but there were volunteers and customers from throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

Helen Chapman of San Jose takes her flat full of items to check out. Auxiliary members Gail Klis of Campbell and Carol Tabellion of Willow Glen gladly take her money. Photos by Carol Rosen

The San Jose Auxiliary’s annual fund-raiser for the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital was its usual success with customers waiting at the gate for the doors to open, an incredibly long line for the jewelry room and loads of people bumping into each other carrying flats full of goodies for gifts and to eat.

Although final figures were not available at press time, the San Jose Auxiliary’s net was $100,000 and counting. “It was a tremendous year,” said Pumpkin Patch Chair Arden Belsshaw. There were 850 paid entrants and all 335 lunches were sold. The pantry, with its huge variety of baked goods, was empty by 2 p.m. and Belsshaw’s 50 pounds of toffee had sold out by 1:30. All of the potted plants sold out too.

The line to the jewelry room had to be moved as it snaked through the main shopping area of the First Congregational Church, creating shopping hazards. Soon it was out the door and all the way to the entrance, Belsshaw said, and it didn’t shorten until about 2 p.m. when officers began allowing more people in at a time.

Next year, the auxiliary plans to reconfigure the room to allow more people to wander through at a time.

It was difficult to move through the large room with all the people attending the 34th annual Pumpkin Patch. This year’s crowd of 850 people netted over $100,000 and still counting for the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.

Getting ready for the Pumpkin Patch is no easy thing. Collecting of items begins early in the year and baking and other preparations start in late summer and early fall. Tables are brought in the Thursday night before the big day and positioned, while all day Friday the different departments set up their wares and the cooks prepare lunch. Final touches come Saturday morning before the 10 a.m. opening.

This year’s layout included an area all decked out for Halloween and one for Christmas, as well as plants and baskets of plants, some real bargains in books and the most scrumptious cookies, muffins, cakes and breads.

Congratulations to the women who run the San Jose Auxiliary. These donations help defray the cost of the children whose families are unable to pay Packard Hospital. Their work ensures that no child will be turned away for lack of funds.

People interested in shopping at the Auxiliary’s Thrift Box on Lincoln Avenue should note that half-price days are coming up and will be Dec. 14-15, followed by Bag Day on Dec. 16. The shop will be closed the last two weeks of December for the holidays and will reopen Jan. 2.