Thrasher Elementary Student Council representatives display their creations for the school's annual pumpkin coin drive benefiting Signal Mountain Social Services. From left are Mary Sue Cooper, Sam Sawyer, April Weaver, John Lansey, Emily Heinichen and Jessica Hawkins.
Photo by Emily CrismanThrasher Elementary fourth- and fifth-grade Student Council representatives have produced an astoundingly creative batch of decorated pumpkins this year for the school's pumpkin coin drive benefiting Signal Mountain Social Services, a more than decade-old tradition.
"All the teachers are saying there's something special about this year," said Carol Whitfield, co-representative for Thrasher on the SMSS volunteer board.
Students were asked to decorate their pumpkin(s) and/or gourd(s) to resemble the character(s) of their choice, with no cutting allowed.
The results included many Angry Birds, a gourd-headed Snoopy and the "Three Little Pigs" complete with straw house. Also represented were Oscar the Grouch, the owl from Harry Potter, Smurfette, a caterpillar created with a line of mini pumpkins and a cheeseburger with shredded tissue paper lettuce and yellow napkin cheese.
Whitfield said setting the pumpkin due date directly following fall break seemed to give the students more room to stretch their imaginations and come up with unique ideas, as well as the time to carry them out in occasionally elaborate detail.
"The huge creativity really made everyone excited and inspired people to give [to SMSS] and really get into the competition," she said.
Children voted for their favorites by dropping coins into the jars placed beside every pumpkin. The coins were counted by parents at the conclusion of the drive to determine the winning pumpkin, and all money raised went to Signal Mountain Social Services.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES
SMSS provides services for Signal Mountain families including emergency food bags, which contain enough supplies to last around four days; as well as other forms of assistance such as tutoring and helping with preschool tuition. To receive confidential assistance from SMSS, located at 633 Mississippi Ave., make an appointment to meet with a social worker by calling 886-5982.