Featured Work: Behind the Scenes of the Gunnison Valley Health Pumpkin Patch

Client: Gunnison Valley Health (GVH)

Format: Community event program and communications

Originally Published Article: October 2025

The Gunnison Valley Health Pumpkin Patch is a large-scale, annual community event serving hundreds of families each fall. For the past three years, I led the planning, coordination and on-site execution of the event, overseeing logistics, volunteer management, cross-department collaboration and promotion. Under my leadership, the event grew in attendance, operational complexity and community reach.

Program Scope and Objectives

The Pumpkin Patch was designed as a recurring community engagement program with the following goals:

• Create a safe, inclusive and family-friendly event on hospital grounds

• Strengthen community relationships and organizational visibility

• Provide accessible, seasonal programming that aligned with GVH’s mission

• Support ongoing outreach through newsletter sign-ups and in-person engagement

Planning and Logistics

Planning began months in advance, with key decisions made nearly a year ahead to ensure scalability and safety. I was responsible for:

• Establishing the event timeline and operational plan

• Managing the event budget and allocating resources

• Sourcing and coordinating delivery of more than 550 pumpkins

• Designing site layout, activity flow and safety considerations

This advance planning ensured the event could accommodate high attendance while maintaining a positive experience for families and volunteers.

Volunteer and Staff Coordination

I built and managed a large volunteer program that supported all aspects of the event. Responsibilities included:

• Recruiting volunteers from across the organization

• Designing role-specific assignments and schedules

• Communicating expectations and logistics through internal systems and printed materials

• Providing on-site leadership and problem-solving during the event

Clear structure and communication enabled volunteers to operate confidently and efficiently.

Marketing and Community Outreach

I developed and executed a multi-channel promotion strategy to maximize community awareness and attendance, including:

• Printed flyers and signage

• Paper advertising

• Digital promotion through social media and internal organizational platforms

• Custom-designed coloring pages created by me and distributed to local schools

This approach supported strong turnout and repeat attendance year over year.

Activity Programming and Department Collaboration

The event included multiple activity stations operated by different departments. I coordinated with department leaders to:

• Develop engaging, family-friendly activities

• Allocate staff and materials for each station

• Ensure consistent visitor experience and safety standards

Stations ranged from pumpkin decorating and carnival games to touch-a-truck and health-themed activities, reinforcing community connection and awareness of services.

On-Site Execution and Program Management

During the event, I served as the on-site lead, overseeing:

• Volunteer check-in and shift transitions

• Activity station operations

• Guest flow and engagement

• Real-time troubleshooting and adjustments

This hands-on management ensured smooth execution and a welcoming environment.

Outcomes and Impact

The 10th Annual Pumpkin Patch welcomed over 300 families from Gunnison and surrounding areas, including visitors who traveled more than two hours to attend. More than 550 pumpkins were distributed, the event generated increased newsletter subscriptions and positive community engagement and feedback.

Why This Matters

This project demonstrates my ability to manage complex, recurring community programs that require strategic planning, operational coordination and strong communication. It reflects a leadership approach grounded in organization, collaboration and measurable community impact.

Read the original article I wrote as an event recap published by Gunnison Valley Health: https://www.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/news/2025/october/gvh-10th-annual-pumpkin-patch-brings-together-fa/