When our 20th Annual Pumpkin Patch opens for customers on October 2, we need volunteers to run The Patch every day. There is no need to lift pumpkins at this beloved community event. We just need friendly faces. Please consider signing up for 2 hour (or longer) shifts — maybe even the same shift each week. Here’s the link to volunteer to work at The Patch. To sign up, put a checkmark in the time(s) you can volunteer, click the “submit and sign up” button, add your name (email & phone are optional), and click on the “sign up now” button.  It’s so easy!  (We are using the free version, so you will see some ads.) If you add your email address when signing up for a shift, you will automatically receive a reminder email a couple of days before your shift. If you want to change a time you signed up for, you can create a sign up account and edit it yourself, or contact Pam in the office or Diane Bartley. This is our largest fundraiser and, in a year when many of our fundraisers have been cancelled, it's even more important. If you've never worked The Patch, volunteer with someone else to get on-the-job training, or check with Diane or the office.

This will be the last year Lou Ann Scott and Diane Bartley will lead this event, and they are looking for their replacements. We’d like to have you shadow us some this year so next year you have a good idea what you’ll need to do.  Please read the pumpkin patch tasks below and let us know if you can help. 

This year we are asking for Team Leaders to be in charge of certain tasks. Please read the following tasks and let us know if you can help.

Before delivery day:

1. Pumpkin Patch Leader or Leaders: Oversee all the tasks that need to be done to have a successful season. This starts with ordering the pumpkins and setting delivery date.

2. Team leader for Pallets: Arrange to pick up pallets and deliver them close to the pumpkin delivery date and return pallets as they empty. The leader will have to arrange for volunteers to help. We usually have 3 to 4 strong people to help load and unload and place the pallets in the yard. We have been getting them for FREE from Robinson’s in Sewickley. You will need to call them and let them know when you are picking them up. It is helpful to have use of a truck and/or trailer available. If not, we would have to rent something to transport them.

3. Team Leader to arrange for volunteers to help unload the pumpkins: Place a sign-up sheet in the church. Make sure notices get put in the newsletter and bulletins. Make announcements in church.
   
   We also depend on local volunteers such as Robert Morris University, QVHS Key Club, Girl and Boy Scouts and realtors to come help us. The leader would have to call and ask them if they can help and how many people. You are able to use any resources you’d like to use. Some volunteers need community service and on delivery day someone will need to sign confirmation for those who need it.

4. Team leader to have supplies ready for delivery day

   • Baskets for unloading and displays

   • Wheelbarrows and Wagons

   • Large trash bags for the hay on the truck

   • Price signs for the pumpkins

   • Signs to direct unloaders where to place certain pumpkins

   • Place lawn signage

   • T able for Sellers

   • Other supplies for seller volunteers

   • Large brooms

Delivery Day:

1. Team leader for unloaders

   • Count unloaded pumpkins if needed

   • Keep the correct number of unloaders on the truck

   • Make sure they have what they need

   • Direct fire bucket lines as to where to place pumpkins

   • Have someone in the yard teach how to do it and get the lines set up

   • Check packing list and sign truckers paper work

2. Team Leader for food and drinks for volunteers. Prepare / purchase refreshments and serve to the volunteers.

3. Team Leader for Retail on Delivery day

   • We start to sell as soon as they come off the truck. It is usually a very busy day

   • Have 2 sales people and the leader

   • Set up startup money, sales table, aprons, instruction book, charge device, and other items the sellers will need

   • Fill baskets with boxed items

   • Put price tags on baskets

4. Team Leader for Clean up on Delivery Day

   • Schedule your helpers 4 to 6 people

   • When the pumpkins are unloaded the truck needs to be cleaned. All the hay needs to be put in large garbage bags as the truck is swept out

   • Use a small amount of hay on the lawn on walk ways. The hay will kill the grass so use it sparingly

   • Break down boxes and take to the trash

   • Clean up any debris that was created that day

5. Team Leader for Scheduling Sales Volunteers

   • Make sure we have proper sales coverage for the month

   • Make calls to remind volunteers of their shifts

   • Make calls to fill the schedule

   • Work with Pam in the office to post e-mails asking for help

   • We use an online schedule so for anyone not online you might need to enter for them

   • Have a list of people that can be called at the last minute to be able to fill cancelations or no shows