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Charitable cornucopia: Turning pumpkins into a Thanksgiving meal


Published: November 25, 2009

Ironstone Farm found a new way raise money to provide turkeys for families in need this year: the Pumpkins to Turkeys project.

Begun in spring with a plan to turn a section of the Andover horse farm into a pumpkin patch, various participants in the therapeutic programs planted, nurtured and harvested the crop in preparation for the fall. While some of the pumpkins were used for decorating the weekly farm events throughout the fall, and others were used for craft activities for children, the majority were sold with the intention of using proceeds to buy turkeys for Lazarus House in Lawrence.

The goal was to raise $1,000, said Director Deedee O'Brien. In the end, more than $1,300 was raised, with $800 used to buy and deliver turkeys before Thanksgiving Day. The farm also collaborated with the Rotary Club of Andover to bring turkeys and Thanksgiving Day fixings to other agencies throughout Andover and Greater Lawrence this week.