Bakersfield College swim teams attracted more than 300 people to their first-ever pumpkin patch fundraiser on Oct. 12.
Tina Cummings, BC aquatics center director, explained that the pumpkin patch fundraiser is their fall fundraiser and they do an annual fundraising dinner and silent auction in the spring.
Andrew Hargis, BC freshman, was among the many swim team members excited to lend a hand in the fundraising at the pumpkin patch. Hargis explained that there are usually relays put on for fundraising, so the pumpkin patch was something new and different.
BC students, staff, and members of the community brought their children to BC to enjoy a wide array of activities. BC swim team had booths going for a bake sale, arts and crafts, and face painting.
Many children gathered at the ever-popular bounce house that was readily equipped with a built-in slide.
Among the other activities, the swim teams also entertained guests with traditional Halloween-style games such as spooky fishing, corn hole, and, of course, pumpkin decorating.
BC swim teams offered advanced sale tickets for the pumpkins, of which each team member was in charge of selling four. Cummings explained that many members even exceeded sales expectations.
Bakersfield Aquatics Club, a youth swim team program that swims at BC, was responsible for the donation of the bounce house and pumpkins.
“A lot of people out here are parents of kids that swim on club team programs,” Cummings said. “Bakersfield Aquatics as a club is there to support Bakersfield College swimming.”
According to Cummings, the swim teams raised approximately $1,900.
All profits will go toward expenses not covered by BC, according to Cummings. Some expenses include travel expenses and swimsuits.