As the holiday season approaches, we are excited to share a unique and fun way to support Community Resource Center’s Holiday Baskets program! This year marks our 42nd annual Holiday Baskets, and we’re proud to spotlight an inspiring volunteer initiative: “Pumpkins for Good.” Through this project, you can purchase beautiful pumpkin succulents to help bring joy to local seniors in need this season.
CRC’s Holiday Baskets program offers a helping hand to households during the holiday season. With the support of our compassionate community, we provide families with the opportunity to celebrate while easing financial stress, allowing them to focus on essential needs like rent and utilities. This year, we’re offering three ways to brighten the holidays, one of which is Senior Gifts. These gifts are filled with thoughtful items to bring comfort, care and holiday cheer to local seniors.
“Pumpkins for Good”
The “Pumpkins for Good” initiative began with Jennifer Stein and her family, whose dedication to giving back has made a meaningful difference in our community. Several years ago, Jennifer’s daughter and her Girl Scout troop volunteered for CRC’s Holiday Baskets program, providing gifts and food to households in need during the holidays. Over the years, Jennifer’s son and daughter have actively sought ways to support those in need, starting with lemonade stands where they chose to donate their proceeds to charity. During the pandemic, they pivoted their efforts to support CRC’s food pantry with a supply and food drive. In 2022, Jennifer and her children started “Pumpkins for Good,” a project selling pumpkin succulents to raise funds for CRC’s Holiday Baskets.
Last year, the Stein family made and sold succulent pumpkins, raising over $3,000 towards the Holiday Baskets program. These funds went towards purchasing items for the senior gifts, such as socks, puzzles, scarves and holiday treats. Not only did Jennifer’s children sell the pumpkins, but they also helped assemble and shop for the gift bags, decorating them to spread even more holiday cheer.
“People really want to help but sometimes they’re not sure what to do,” Jennifer shared. “It’s about supporting other people in our community and helping them during a time when they’re struggling. They deserve to have a great holiday experience.”
For Jennifer, the project is not just about fundraising; it’s also a way to teach her children the value of giving back. “The other big motivator is having a way for my kids to help and understand what other people are going through,” she says.
How You Can Get Involved
Jennifer and her family hope to raise $4,000 for the Holiday Baskets Senior Gifts program this year. You can support this cause in a few different ways:
- Purchase Pumpkin Succulents: Learn more about “Pumpkins for Good” on Instagram and order yours here. Each pumpkin succulent sold goes directly to providing essential items for seniors in need. The Stein family is donating the pumpkins and 100% of sales go to Holiday Baskets. The pumpkins are living arrangements and the pumpkins are left whole so they should last several months.
- Spread the Word: Share the “Pumpkins for Good” Instagram posts with your friends and family or share CRC’s Holiday Baskets program.
- Support Holiday Baskets: Consider making a gift or starting your own crowdfunding fundraiser for Holiday Baskets here.
- Donate Succulent Clippings: If you have succulents of your own, consider donating clippings to help Jennifer and her family continue their creative and impactful work. Contact Jennifer to donate.
Thank you to Jennifer and her son and daughter for spreading joy to seniors in need during the holidays!
