Valley residents show mass support during second annual Pumpkin Patch and Coat Drive

WASILLA — Dozens of Mat-Su Valley residents poured through the second annual Pumpkin Patch and Coat Drive hosted by Primelending, Salvation Army and Allstate.

“The Valley is so giving,” Wasilla Primelending Production Manager Ben Braendel said.

The word apparently got out this year and the big, bright orange pumpkins strewn across the lawn off Leather Loop and Bogard Road tempted many to see what was going on.

During this event, the community was encouraged to donate used and new coats in exchange for pumpkins of their choosing or donate monetary funds.

The monetary donations will help the Salvation Army hand out vouchers for people who show up for coats when none are left.

Thanks to the help of local participating businesses, Primelending was able to pull together four large pallets of pumpkins which ran out rather quickly. This was a welcome surprise to Primelending staff and everyone hosting the event.

They went through 124 coats, nearly cleared out all the pumpkins (down to their last pallet) and gathered a fair amount of monetary donations, all within the first hour. This is way up from last year which had about 70, according to Braendel.

Alaska Salvation Army Captain Denice Delgado helped out throughout the event, collecting monetary donations and helping kids pick out their pumpkins. She was filling in for Majors Kevin and Tina Botjen who oversee the Valley.

“I think it’s amazing. It’s amazing that the community comes out and they know that there’s a need within the community, and they’re willing to help to fix that,” Delgado said.

Like many alongside her, Delgado was thrilled by the turnout this year.

“It’s already the second year and they’re already outdoing the numbers from last year,” Delgado said.

With Halloween around the corner and winter on its heels, Braendel thought this would be one of the most effective way to give back to the community, especially for the kids. Coats for all ages were accepted but kids stoop atop as the prime focus, mainly since they grow so fast and coats can be expensive and add up with large, low income families.

“It’s perfect timing,” Braendel said.

Braendel hopes to expand the event over the years, ideally wishing it will become a staple of the community and outgrow their current location just outside their office.

“Ultimately, our goal is to make it a great community event every year,” Braendel said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com