A crop of peculiar pumpkins have popped up on the doorsteps of Bethlehem businesses to promote October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This is the third year To Life! in Delmar has sponsored the Painting Our Town Pink initiative with the Bethlehem
Chamber of Commerce. Throughout the month, business and restaurant owners are invited to decorate their windows and lobbies pink for breast cancer awareness.
“It’s become a tradition that’s nicely received in the community,” said Executive Director Eileen Howe Bird.
To Life! provides support services to local breast cancer patients through educational programs, support groups, peer mentoring and massage therapy. The organization also helps with patient fittings for wigs and mastectomy bras.
“We’re not a research institute, but we help people deal with the reality of here and now,” said Bird. “We don’t provide treatment, but ongoing support.”
According to Bird, the pink is meant to do more than raise awareness. It’s also a celebration of the lives of those affected by the disease and the progress made in treatment over the years.
“Fortunately, being diagnosed is no longer the death sentence it once was,” she said.
As thanks for their participation in the Painting Our Town Pink initiative, businesses receive a pink pumpkin from the organization. This year’s event is set to be the largest yet as senior Emily Stento took over its organization for her volunteer project for Bethlehem Central High School.
Stento visited local businesses, both that have participated in the past and may be new, and asked for them to participate by decorating their windows for the month of October. She then got Hannaford, Price Chopper and Olsen’s Hardware and Garden Center in Slingerlands to donate 70 pumpkins. Olsen’s also donated the pink paint.
“I chose To Life! because I know people who have been affected by breast cancer,” said Stento, whose mother previously worked for the organization. “I also know when people hear their name (To Life!), they aren’t always aware of who they are and what they do, so I wanted to get their name out there.”
Stento said she also wanted to pick a project that was not only fun, but gave back to the community.
“I didn’t want a one-and-done project like some other students do,” she said.
Each senior at Bethlehem is required to volunteer 20 hours of their time as part of their Participation in Government course.
After collecting donations and seeking participants, Stento gathered a group a fellow students to help paint the pumpkins on Saturday, Sept. 27. She put the call out to her field hockey team and Girl Scout troop and was surprised by the large turnout.
“It was very generous of everybody to come and help, since most of them have their own projects to complete,” said Stento.
After the pumpkins were painted and tied with ribbons, they were delivered to local businesses. Some extras were left at To Life! for businesses who would still like to participate.
Emily’s mom, Judi Stento, said she was proud of her daughter’s hard work and that of her classmates.
“The kids today communicate via texting, and Emily sent a message to the girls to ask them to come and word spread,” said Judi Steno. “Girls who we didn’t even expect came. Some dropped things they were doing and came to help. That’s what I loved. I think it says a lot about the student body at Bethlehem, the team spirit of the hockey and Girl Scouts. I think they felt a sense of accomplishment.”
Bird said she couldn’t be happier so many community members and businesses were taking part in this year’s event.
“It speaks a lot to the impact breast cancer has had on this community and how we are fighting back,” she said.
To participate in this year’s Painting Our Town Pink event, or to donate directly to To Life!, call 439-5975 or visit www.tolife.org.
