Pathfinders Pumpkin Run returns to support communities in Coffs

PATHFINDERS’ 12th annual Pumpkin Run powered in to Coffs Harbour on Tuesday 9 June for a day of providing food and support for people in need.

A team of 30 staff, volunteers, and young people involved in programs with Pathfinders, provided one-and-a-half tonnes of pumpkins, making soup with some and donating the rest.

Seventy people were fed on the day, centred around the community at Coffs Harbour Uniting Church’s Soup Kitchen, “the soupie”.

Over the past year the team has worked together on the Tilbuster Station in Armidale growing pumpkins – planting, maintaining and harvesting the crop.

While this season’s harvest had been impacted by poor growing conditions, the experience became an important lesson for everyone involved about the realities of life on the land and the challenges faced by farmers and regional communities.

The day in Coffs Harbour was the Pathfinders’ first stop on a Mid North Coast round trip that also delivered to Port Macquarie and Wingham.

For the young people involved, the Pumpkin Run experience was an opportunity to build practical skills, work as part of a team, and see the real impact of months of effort – including learning resilience and adaptability when things did not go to plan.

“It was great to see the (Coffs Harbour) Mayor, Nikki Williams, come along to visit and support the Pumpkin Run,” Pathfinders’ Craig Hunt told News Of The Area.

“…and she even did a few push ups as part of her youth mental health challenge (for the month of June).

“Catching up with the team from Coffs Harbour Uniting Church Soup Kitchen is always a highlight for us.

“The work they do is life-changing and we were grateful to be involved in supporting them.

“Our pumpkins were a huge success – either turned into soup or given away whole – everyone enjoyed them.

“The young people with Pathfinders had some great chats with members of the local community – there were some real characters in attendance, and our young folk haven’t stopped talking about their time in Coffs…we can’t wait to come back and do it all again next year.”

Pathfinders CEO, Alan Brennan, said the Pumpkin Run remained a vital part of the organisation’s work with young people.

“Initiatives like the Pumpkin Run matter because they give young people the chance to contribute in a real and meaningful way. They’re not just participants – they’re the ones doing the work, giving back, and seeing firsthand the impact they can have in their community,” Mr Brennan said.

“This year has also shown our young people that farming and regional life can be unpredictable.

“Despite the challenges with the harvest, they’ve remained committed to making sure the charities and communities relying on this support are not let down, and that’s something they should be incredibly proud of.”

The first week of the Pumpkin Run saw the team deliver pumpkins to charities and organisations in Newcastle and Sydney, ending with a morning tea hosted by the Governor of NSW, the Hon Margaret Beazley, at Government House.

By Andrea FERRARI