People can pick pumpkins for a purpose this month at New Hope Assembly of God.

The church, located south of Smith Ferry Road on U.S. 64, is selling all sizes and shapes of pumpkins and other gourds to raise money for an annual mission trip.

“We’re raising money for a home mission. We’re building a church in Cedar Creek, Ariz., for the White Mountain Apaches,” said church secretary Joyce Nelson. “Our last mission trip was at a Navajo reservation near Tuba City, Ariz.”

Nelson said the church goes on a mission trip each year, often to help build a church or home for a community.

This is the first year the church has used a pumpkin patch to raise money. She said the church ordered the pumpkins from a Navajo reservation in Farmington, N.M.

“We got 1,000 big pumpkins and lots of smaller ones; we also have about 400 smaller gourds,” she said.

New Hope Pastor John Overton said the church received information about the Navajo’s pumpkin fundraiser in the mail and decided to try it.

“We usually need $5,000 for a mission trip,” Overton said.

Nelson said she wasn’t sure what pumpkins would be best for eating and what’s best for decorating.

The best pie pumpkins are smaller with a less grainy texture than larger pumpkins, said Virginia Stanley, Muskogee County extension educator for family and consumer sciences.

She said pumpkins used for cooking are usually sold as pie pumpkins.

Pie pumpkins can be cut in half and baked, cut side down at 350 degrees until tender.

“Once you puree it, it can be frozen,” she said.

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