CLARKS SUMMIT — Each summer, Countryside Community Church’s Youth Ministries travels to various places to help out those in need. Past missions have includes trips to Mission Central in Mechanicsburg, a warehouse affiliate of the United Methodist Church’s Susquehanna Conference that helps with disaster relief.

Members of the youth ministry sold pumpkins to the community during the weekends of Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 2-4. The church’s inaugural “Pumpkin Patch” was held as a fundraiser to raise money for Countryside Youth Ministries’ mission trip next summer.

Pumpkins for the sale were donated by Eckels Farm, Newton Township.

Although the youth ministry has not yet decided on a destination for next year’s mission trip, Youth Pastor Scott Miller said that one idea was to have the youth group members help out locally, adding that some mission trips can cost from $200 to $300 per person.

“I would like to see if we can help out people in need around here,” Miller said. “It’s about investing in the community.”

Missy Yusinski, who works with the youth ministry at Countryside Community Church, said that the idea for the pumpkin sale started last year, when they sold pumpkins during the church’s annual turkey supper.

Although as of Sunday morning it was still too early to tell how much money they had raised, Yusinski said she was hopeful that the sale had a good turnout. Countryside Youth Ministries anticipates that they may have more fundraisers throughout the rest of the year, as well.

Countryside Youth Ministries is open to young people in fifth through 12th grade, regardless of whether or not they are members of Countryside Community Church. The youth fellowship group meets on Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. at Countryside Community Church on Orchard Drive in Newton Township. For more information, contact Pastor Scott Miller at somiller@susumc.org.

Countryside Youth Ministries members are, first row, from left, Jordan Molitoris, Janie Kircher. Second row, Lucy Rothfus, Kirsten Hardy. Third row, Susan Griggs, Missy Yusinski, Pastor Scott Miller, Curt Murphy and Tommaso Tamberelli.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_ABJ_CountrysidePumpkinPatch_Photo01.jpg.optimal.jpgCountryside Youth Ministries members are, first row, from left, Jordan Molitoris, Janie Kircher. Second row, Lucy Rothfus, Kirsten Hardy. Third row, Susan Griggs, Missy Yusinski, Pastor Scott Miller, Curt Murphy and Tommaso Tamberelli. Mauri Rapp | For Abington Journal
Countryside Youth Ministries sells pumpkins for mission trip

By Mauri Rapp

For Abington Journal

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