1,600 Pumpkins Bring ‘Autumn Joy’ To Wall Township Schools

WALL, NJ — About 1,600 pumpkins were recently distributed across five schools in the Wall Township School District as part of a community-driven initiative to bring "autumn joy" to students.

Held in partnership between the Wall Township Education Association (WTEA) and the Perricone Family Charitable Trust, officials said that between Oct. 23 and Oct. 28, the Trust purchased 1,760 pumpkins from a local Monmouth County family farm in Millstone Township and donated:

• 400 pumpkins to Allenwood Elementary School
• 500 pumpkins to Central Elementary School
• 400 pumpkins to Old Mill Elementary School
• 200 pumpkins to West Belmar Elementary School
• 100 pumpkins to Wall Primary School

Each school proceeded to transform these donations into a festive “Pumpkin Patch,” giving students the chance to select their very own pumpkin to take home and enjoy.

“This partnership truly represents what makes Wall Township special — our community’s commitment to working together for our students,” said WTEA President Bob Leach. “The Perricone Family Charitable Trust’s generosity brought smiles, joy, and a sense of togetherness to our schools. We are deeply grateful for their kindness and continued support.”

In order to bring pumpkins to Wall Township schools, drop-offs were coordinated by Anna Lee Wildeman, VP of Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) for the WTEA.

During the coordination process, officials said Wildeman worked closely with principals and staff to ensure that each school received pumpkins and that every student had the opportunity to participate.

“This event wasn’t just about pumpkins,” Wildeman said. “It was about creating memories for our students — watching their faces light up as they picked out their own pumpkin was something truly special. And it really is a great way to kick off the festive fall holiday season. We are so thankful to the Perricone Family Charitable Trust for making that possible.”

In a news release, the WTEA extended its thanks to the Perricone Family Charitable Trust for their generosity and community spirit.

According to WTEA officials, the trust was founded by Wall Township Public School graduates Robert Imparato and his daughter, Madison, in honor of Robert’s stepfather and mother, Phil and Marylin Perricone, who proudly lived and raised their family in Wall Township.

Going forward, the WTEA and Perricone Family Charitable Trust said they look forward to continuing to work together to support Wall Township’s students and strengthen the bonds that make the community thrive.

To learn more about the WTEA, you can visit their website.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of "Imparato." Patch regrets the error.