(San Bernardino, CA) – Over the past week, Majority Leader Emeritus Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton) brought the 7th Annual Pop-Up Pumpkin Patches to elementary schools throughout the 50th State Assembly District. She celebrated the fall season with each school’s students by distributing pumpkins to our Transitional (T-K), Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) and Kindergarten students.
The Pop-Up Pumpkin Patch started in 2017 when an elementary school in Colton called the office to request help, as their annual trip to the local pumpkin patch was canceled last minute. As a result, Assemblymember Reyes brought the pumpkin patch to the school, starting a new fall tradition in the district. Since 2017, Assemblymember Reyes has brought this event to over 25 schools, providing over 5,000 pumpkins. In addition to the pumpkins, our local fire departments join the celebrations, distributing hats.
“I look forward to our fall tradition of bringing the Pop-Up Pumpkin Patch every year. Our T-K, Pre-K and Kindergarten students deserve to enjoy fall traditions that their siblings enjoyed,” said Reyes. “In addition to getting to spend time with our community’s children, it provides me with an opportunity to hear from some of their parents and our educators. As a former student of one of our local districts, Colton Joint Unified, I could not be prouder of our schools.”
“Thank you, Assemblymember Reyes, for this fun event,” said Lanette Gonzales, a parent of a Cooley Ranch Elementary School student, who serves as the Parent Teacher Organization President. “My child loves their pumpkin.”
“We’re so grateful that they choose us each year. We’re very honored to have this experience with our students and Assemblymember,” said Theresa Gomez, Principal of Randall Pepper Elementary School. “It is a fun way to celebrate the fall season. Thank you and we will see you next year!”
This year, Assemblymember Reyes has visited, or will visit, Los Amigos, Victoria, Bryn Mawr, Crestmore, Randall Pepper, Cooley Ranch, Corona, and Lugonia Elementary Schools. In total, Reyes’s office distributed nearly 900 pumpkins during these pop-up events.