GEORGETOWN

As school was letting out Friday at Georgetown Central School, students were excited to collect their very own pumpkin before boarding the bus.

“Regardless of people’s resources, children should have pumpkins,” said Rich Donaldson of the Georgetown Fire Department. “This just makes sure that every child in town has a pumpkin.

The free pumpkins were made possible by the Georgetown Fire Department and Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Winslow. Johnny’s Selected Seeds has been donating the free pumpkins for about 10 years, said Donaldson, and the fire department has gone to pick them up and distribute them to Georgetown students every year.

“We go up and get them, and we work with the school on a good day to distribute them,” said Donaldson. “When the kids come outside they’ll get a pumpkin, we’ll help put them in a bag and then they’ll get on the bus to go home.”

There were about 100 pumpkins arranged outside of the school entrance Friday afternoon. That’s one for each of Georgetown Central School’s 57 students and any staff that wanted one. The remaining pumpkins will go to the community center for the town’s Halloween party.

“Georgetown is a very special place, and the sense of community is very strong. We don’t ask for this, they volunteer it,” Principal Matthew Carlson said. “This is a great group of firefighters and community members who support our school.”

“Children need pumpkins, and Johnny’s Seeds is generous to us. It’s just a great service, and it’s all about giving back,” said Donaldson.

The fire department will come back to the school in December to help make wreaths for each student to take home.

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