Free pumpkins being handed out today in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - The pumpkin carving started early today in the Wellington Heights neighborhood of southeast Cedar Rapids.

By 10 a.m., a crew of about a dozen volunteers was hard at work, cutting, carving and scraping out the insides of about 200 gourds being handed out for free today as part of the Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association's annual pumpkin giveaway.

'We do this to try to get the kids engaged in the neighborhood and give them pride in something,” said association President Justin Wasson, scraping the guts from a pumpkin on the front porch of The Wellington House - the association's headquarters - located at 392 15th St. SE. 'It gets us in the holiday spirit. It's always fun driving around the neighborhood on the day after and seeing all the porches with pumpkins displayed.”

The giveaway was scheduled to begin around noon and is to last until roughly 5 p.m., or until all the pumpkins are distributed.

The annual pumpkin giveaway has been a staple in the Wellington Heights neighborhood for at least 17 years, Wasson said, noting the event was started years ago by parole officers working out of the association's headquarters and the gourds were grown at the Anamosa State Penitentiary.

Wasson said the pumpkins this year were donated by Barts Farm and Pumpkin Patch, 7307 Alburnett Road in Marion.

'We were blessed with a good crop and glad we could share it,” said Kim Gingrich of Barts Farm.

Next year, Wasson hopes to grow some of the pumpkins distributed in the association's new community garden, established in May at the corner of Fourth Avenue and 15th Street SE.

As they prepared this morning for what they hope is a rush of kids, volunteers worked diligently to carve different designs into the pumpkins.

Wasson said those choosing pumpkins can either select one that is not carved, or choose one of the many that have been carved. Volunteers are even happy to custom carve pumpkins for some of the kids.

Wasson said it's always gratifying to see kids with their pumpkins.

'The littlest kids grab the biggest pumpkins and they'll be waddling down the sidewalk carrying the thing,” he said.

Wasson said the pumpkin giveaway and other association events - like summer picnics and support of two community gardens - are made possible by the group's annual fundraiser.

This year's fundraiser - a dinner and silent auction - takes place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 361 17th St. SE.

All are invited to attend the free dinner, which features chili, clam chowder and chicken noodle soup, and to bid on a variety of items. Wasson hopes to raise about $1,000.

The Wellington Heights neighborhood is defined as an area bordered by First Avenue SE to the north, Mount Vernon Road to the south, 19th Street SE to the east and 10th Street SE to the west.

Wasson said the association is run by an eight-member board, has a mailing list of about 120 people and draws roughly 30 people to its monthly meetings held the second Tuesday of each month at the Paul Engle Center, 1600 Fourth Ave. SE.

Because the November meeting date falls on Election Day, the Nov. 1 fundraiser is taking its place.

If You Go

l What: Free Pumpkin Giveaway

l When: Until 5 p.m. today

l Where: The Wellington House, 392 15th St. SE

l Details: The Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association is giving away about 200 pumpkins for free.

l What: Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association annual fundraiser

l When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

l Where: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 361 17th St. SE, Cedar Rapids

l Details: A free dinner features chili, clam chowder and chicken noodle soup. Guests are invited to bid on a variety of silent auction items.