Magnificat students paint pumpkins for hospice patients
By Danielle Toth
Rocky River
Published Oct. 14, 2009

“No day but today” was the message Paula Kampf, Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio Hospice volunteer coordinator, delivered to Magnificat High School students in the Key Club on Thursday.

The students took part in “Pumpkins for Patients,” a program designed to spread autumn cheer and make a difference in the lives of terminally ill VNA Hospice patients and their families.

Maddy Koz, a Magnificat student and member of the Key Club, finishes up painting the eyes of her pumpkin.

Patterson’s Farm Market, 414 Caves Road in Chesterland, donated more than 100 remaindered pumpkins to the program. At Pickering Hill Farms, 35669 Detroit Road in Avon, customers can make $2, $4 or $6 pumpkin donations that will be matched by Pickering Hill Farms through Oct. 19. Each donation will be commemorated with a pumpkin donation card that will be displayed in the farm store to thank donors and encourage participation. The pumpkins are then painted by area schoolchildren and delivered by VNA Hospice care teams to patients’ homes in seven northeast Ohio counties.

The “no day but today” message comes in because hospice patients are near the end of their lives. Many are just trying to live each day to the fullest and appreciate life. The pumpkins are a way to bring joy to these patients, Kampf said.

“When somebody walks in with these pumpkins that kids who will never meet them painted for them, it’s overwhelming,” Kampf told the students. “Some people will cry. They really appreciate that you took the time to do this.”

The VNA had a similar program last year with just a few pumpkins and wanted to expand the program this year, Kampf said. She called around to ask for pumpkin donations, but many places turned her down, citing the economy as the main reason. She came up with the idea of having people purchase pumpkins for the program. Pickering Hill said it would take it one step further by matching the donations.

Since then, the program has grown and now encompasses five schools – Urban Community School in Cleveland, Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills and St. Mary Magdalene School in Eastlake. Arrangements are also being made at Cleveland Central Catholic in Cleveland, Laurel School in Cleveland and Lake Catholic High School in Mentor. With all the help, Kampf said each hospice patient should be able to receive a pumpkin.

A “Pumpkins for Patients” poster and donation cards were designed by Pat Sandy, a Rocky River resident who is a volunteer with VNA Hospice in his spare time and works as a Senior Program Director of Humorous Cards (and “Humor Expert”) at American Greetings.

Kampf usually comes to speak to the schools personally about hospice so the students understand what they’re doing and its impact. The students at Magnificat have been very enthusiastic about the program, she said.

“It’s fun and creative, and it also makes a wonderful difference in someone’s life,” Kampf said. “It’s important that kids see they can make a difference in the lives of strangers. I can see they were listening to me so attentively, and they really appear eager about the project.

“When I delivered the pumpkins last week, the girls came out in the pouring rain to help unload them,” she said. “They got completely drenched, but it shows they were really willing to do this.”

Kate Haggerty, advisor of the Key Club, said that when she heard about the “Pumpkins for Patients” program, she knew it was something the students would love. Key Club is part of Kiwanis International and is a student-led service club for high school students.

“So many kids want to do service,” Haggerty said. “It’s totally voluntary, and when I asked them if they would stay after school for this project, I had a great response. We’re always trying to find opportunities for service.”

Students in the Key Club provide service beyond the service hours they are required to complete as Magnificat students, Haggerty said.

“I think the pumpkin program is great,” said Alex Sadasivan, president of the Key Club. “It’s a great way to show people we care about other people. It’s the little things we do that can make someone’s day a little bit brighter.”

While some students took the project very seriously, others, like Key Club members Morgan Barrett and Allie Corrigan, had fun being creative with their pumpkin. They named the pumpkin, which they said was “business in the front and a party in the back,” Thomas.

“If people who are down on Halloween enjoy it, it was worth spending an afternoon,” Corrigan said.

The VNA is looking to do similar programs to “Pumpkins for Patients” for other holidays. Some ideas for the Christmas season include holiday wreaths, stockings filled with personal care items and ornaments.

“If we could have a project every season, we would,” Kampf said. “We’d love to provide more things for the patients.”

For more information on the Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio or the “Pumpkins for Patients” program, visit www.VNAohio.org or call (216) 931-1366.