(Photo / Courtesy of Webfoot Painting)
Fundraising? Pumpkins? A seriously large number of volunteers? Carving for Kids is an event where all of the above converge with one common goal: to raise funds for MountainStar Family Relief Nursery.
MountainStar is a nonprofit organization in Bend that provides crucial community support services in an effort to prevent child abuse and neglect. The agency takes a holistic approach by not just supporting and protecting children, but also coming alongside at-risk families as a whole.
“The work MountainStar does is so huge, and so important,” says Gavin Hepp, co-owner of Webfoot. “We want to do all we can to support them in a big way, and show that our Central Oregon community sees and appreciates them.”
Every year, Smith Rock Ranch donates a large number of pumpkins (more than 300 last year). Local individuals then have the opportunity to buy and decorate their pumpkin during the Carving for Kids event. On top of that, more than 90 Central Oregon businesses purchased custom-carved pumpkins with their corporate logos etched in for storefront displays. All of the proceeds go directly to MountainStar Family Relief Nursery, and the proceeds adds up.
In 2018, Carving for Kids raised more than $32,000, and over the past ten years, the numbers add up to more than $125,000. In the words of the Webfoot team, that’s “seriously great.”
This kind of pumpkin extravaganza takes time and organization. Webfoot Painting typically dedicates three full office days (and about 500 combined hours of labor) to coordinating and running the event. After all, it involves a lot of moving parts, and moving pumpkins.
Webfoot and MountainStar Family Relief Nursery invite you to attend. The hope is that this will be the biggest year yet, full of families, fun and funds raised. The event takes place on Saturday, October 19 at The Box Factory (near AVID Cider), 550 SW Industrial Way, Bend.
webfootpainting.com/carving-for-kids • 541-390-0590
