The Boy Scouts and the Pumpkin Patch
story by JENNIFER BROWN-CARPENTER
Fall in Beaufort can sometimes too closely resemble summertime. The heat and humidity linger while summer storms come and go, bringing cool breezes with them and pulling them along and away before we get to fully enjoy them. Leaves shift in colors ever so slightly, just enough to make us take second glances. With such slight changes, how are we to truly know when Fall has arrived in the Lowcountry? Can we ever really be sure?
Lucky for us, Carteret Street United Methodist Church (CSUMC) has given us a sign to know for sure and without a doubt. And there is no way you can possibly miss it as you drive around downtown Beaufort. You’ll see hundreds of pumpkins lined up in rows, just waiting to be picked out and taken home. Big and small, the sea of orange is delightful!
Brian Benke is the Scoutmaster of Troop 1 in Beaufort. Troop 1 is the oldest Boy Scout troop in the Lowcountry, dating all the way back to 1928. Brian has been in and out of leadership positions in both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for the last 20 years. He became the Scoutmaster back in August of 2020. Brian is originally from Wisconsin and spent 13 years in the Marine Corps. He got out of the military in 2003 and stayed in Beaufort with his wife to raise their family. They have three sons.
The pumpkins are a big fundraiser for CSUMC each year. The church is the charter organization of Troop 1, which is 27 Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts put together a program for organizations to use, and the individual organization gets to decide how they use the program. The church has been the charter organization since day one. The pumpkin unloading is quite a task, and the Boy Scouts are able to play a huge part in it.
Two trucks come in over the course of two weeks’ time. It is a big job, but relatively simple. One of the things that Brian is passionate about is teaching his Boy Scouts accountability and responsibility. Giving back and community service are incredibly important not only to Brian personally but also to the Boy Scouts. The church provides the Scouts with a place to meet, so this is an opportunity to serve them and take care of them well in return. The unloading does not require much more than getting the word out, making sure all the boys show up and passing the pumpkins down an assembly line to be placed on their pallets. Different people come every year, so the process might change slightly, but essentially, grabbing pumpkins and unloading them can’t change too much.
The Benke family has been involved with the pumpkin unloading for over 15 years, starting in 2005 when their oldest son began Boy Scouts.
This event provides a sense of camaraderie and teamwork — not just for the Boy Scouts but for the church as well — as their members volunteer to help with unloading the pumpkins too. Everyone is giving back. The community can see that camaraderie as well. The unloading takes several hours with 150 people typically volunteering. This is a positive sign for the community to see people working together to accomplish something that benefits the church, the Scouts, and the community at large.
“Any time you are part of a family, everyone has to do their part. That goes right along with what I want the boys to get out of being a Boy Scout.” If the boys want anything, they have to learn to work for it. The church provides the Scouts a place to live and meet, somewhere to house their things, and the Men’s Club there provides some funding for the Scouts. Brian doesn’t want his boys to have an entitlement mentality. He wants his boys to take care of themselves and serve others well. That is his main goal.
If you decide to stop by and pick out a pumpkin, you can take your time to find just the right one.
There are hundreds of pumpkins with different shapes and sizes to choose from.
They don’t separate them too much, so it is fun to let the kids run through and search for the one that they love the best. They have large pumpkins that are perfect for carving, as well as smaller ones that are great for decorating your front porch.
When you buy your pumpkins from CSUMC you’re not just buying a pumpkin. You’re supporting a church that supports the Boy Scouts. Indirectly, you’re contributing to the growth and development of the next generation. And that is just about the best thing you can put your money into — especially if you get some cute pumpkins out of it!
