LONGWOOD, Fla. — Churches in central Florida are hoping a fall tradition brings in customers to support their programs.

What You Need To Know

Sanlando United Methodist Church in Longwood uses its pumpkin patch to fundraise for youth camps and mission trips

Last year, they earned $25,000 through the pumpkin patch

First Methodist Church of Apopka plans events and partners with other local groups to attract customers to the patch

Spectrum News 13 created an interactive pumpkin patch map with locations across Central Florida

At Sanlando United Methodist Church in Longwood, teen volunteers clean out rotten pumpkins, hand out stickers to kids, and help customers at their pumpkin patch.

Last year, volunteers raised $25,000 to offset the cost for families.

“It’s a significant fundraiser,” said Sheryl Bane, the church’s youth director. “When I speak with other youth ministers from other churches, nothing else other than a pumpkin patch comes close to raising the funds that we need to do what we like to do for our students.” 

Pumpkin patch coordinator Nikki Robinett says this is the patch’s 30th anniversary. In that time, it’s brought in a new crowd of people who want to support them.

“We have people who come back who aren’t a part of our church year after year, and they tell us, ‘I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid,’ and we watch their kids grow,” said Robinett.

Their pumpkin patch is open seven days a week, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., except on Saturdays, when they open at 10 a.m.

In Apopka, the pumpkin patch has been a tradition at First Methodist Church of Apopka since 1996.

Volunteers are also raising money for children and youth ministries, but they are inviting other groups in the city to participate too.

“This year, we extended it to the Apopka cheerleaders and the Apopka baseball team, the high school,” said Kelly Baloun. “We allow them to come over and take over the patch so they can earn money for their programs, so we really are just trying to connect with the community and build.”

Baloun is the church’s director of children’s ministries. She says they love building community, so they plan events and created a scarecrow trail with the help of organizations across the city.

“I grew up here in Apopka,” said Baloun. “Apopka is my hometown, so to see this happen in my hometown is super cool, to connect with people from our community — I just love it.”

The pumpkin patch at First Methodist Church of Apopka is open Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m.

To find a pumpkin patch near you, or to add yours to the list, visit Spectrum News 13’s interactive pumpkin patch map.