Pumpkins for PADS

  St. Mark’s Episcopal Church preschooler Elliot Dupuy plays in a pumpkin patch Wednesday on the church grounds in Glen Ellyn. The annual pumpkin sale raises money to fight homelessness and the patch also serves as an extension of indoor classrooms. “When we come out here, sometimes we bring our journals and draw what we see in the pumpkin patch,” preschool teacher Beth Figler said. “Then we go back inside to write and talk about our experiences.” Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com

  St. Mark’s Episcopal Church preschooler Soren Alcorn plays in a pumpkin patch on the church’s grounds in Glen Ellyn. The annual pumpkin sale helps raise money to fight homelessness. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com

  The Rev. George Smith of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn talks with preschoolers in a pumpkin patch on the church grounds. Proceeds from pumpkin sales benefit Public Action to Deliver Shelter, or PADS. This is the seventh year the church has sponsored the pumpkin sale and it usually raises about $5,000. “Everybody loves pumpkins,” Smith said. “This is an outreach program for people in the community to (help) end homelessness in DuPage County.” Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com