• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Log In
Itemlive

Itemlive

North Shore news powered by The Daily Item

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Police/Fire
  • Government
  • Obituaries
  • Archives
  • E-Edition
  • Help
This article was published 7 year(s) and 8 month(s) ago
The Rev. Martha Leahy, pastor at the First Congregational Church in Saugus, passes a pumpkin to Marilyn Panico of Saugus as a truckload of the gourds is unloaded. (Spenser Hasak)

Cross country pumpkin shipment is a Saugus tradition

dkane

October 16, 2017 by dkane

SAUGUS—For 15 years the First Congregational Church at 300 Central St. has become the home of hundred of Navajo pumpkins for sale, making it the hub of a fall tradition for many families.

Families gather to take photos and pick out pumpkins of all different shapes and sizes to purchase and bring home.

“It has become important for community building,” Reverend Martha Leahy said. “It brings us together creating a good connection.”

Saturday, the church received it second truckload of pumpkins, coming all the way from the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico.

“Saugus has a deep Native American history. This is something that helps keep that connection,” Leahy said.

The truck, containing more than 1,200 pumpkins for the church, is no easy task to unload. Church and local community members are asked to help. Dozens of people answered the call Saturday, loading wheelbarrows and passing pumpkins down the line to be placed on pallets on the church’s front lawn.

Among those helping was church member Rod Wiley and members of his family, including his children and grandchildren.

“We try to come out here and help every year we can,” he said. “And plus, it’s a lot of fun.”

A forklift donated for the day morning by Agganis Construction also assisted the volunteers. They were rewarded with coffee and donuts courtesy of Del Correria from Dunkin’ Donuts on Route One and Essex street.

Church secretary Carolyn Davis has helped organize the pumpkin sales for years and could be found counting the number of pumpkins volunteers passed off the truck with a pitch counter.

“This is partly a community thank you,” she said, “it’s a great way to give back.”

 

  • dkane
    dkane

    View all posts

Related posts:

No related posts.

Primary Sidebar

Advertisement

Sponsored Content

Advertisement

Upcoming Events

#SmallBusinessFriday #VirtualNetworkingforSmallBusinesses #GlobalSmallBusinessSuccess #Boston

July 18, 2025
Boston Masachusset

1st Annual Lynn Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival presented by Greater Lynn Chamber of Commerce

September 27, 2025
Blossom Street, Lynn,01905, US 89 Blossom St, Lynn, MA 01902-4592, United States

2025 GLCC Annual Golf Tournament

August 25, 2025
Gannon Golf Club

Adult Color/Paint Time

July 11, 2025
5 N Common St, Lynn, MA, United States, Massachusetts 01902

Footer

About Us

  • About Us
  • Editorial Practices
  • Advertising and Sponsored Content

Reader Services

  • Subscribe
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Activate Subscriber Account
  • Submit an Obituary
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Daily Item Photo Store
  • Submit A Tip
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions

Essex Media Group Publications

  • La Voz
  • Lynnfield Weekly News
  • Marblehead Weekly News
  • Peabody Weekly News
  • 01907 The Magazine
  • 01940 The Magazine
  • 01945 The Magazine
  • North Shore Golf Magazine

© 2025 Essex Media Group