By Zach Dunkin
Lots of people have causes they believe in and support. Breast cancer. Alzheimer’s. Autism. There are many more.
Each Halloween Akard True Value Hardware in the Boone Village shopping center offers organizations the opportunity to promote their cause or purpose by painting pumpkins.
“Our idea is just to show that there are so many purposes out there, and this helps raise awareness for those purposes,” Leigh Ann Akard said, whose family has owned and operated the hardware store since 1955. “Each organization has a platform and an opportunity to raise awareness, whatever their mission might be.”
Participants are asked to bring their painted pumpkins to the store at 25 Boone Village (near W. Oak St. and Ford Rd.) by Oct. 16, along with a 4×6-inch information card with the name of the organization and information about the cause they are supporting.
Empty paint cans will be placed in front of each pumpkin for the public to vote for its favorite pumpkin from Oct. 20 through Halloween on Oct. 31. Votes are a penny each. Monies collected in each can will go directly to the organization.
The pumpkin that collects the most votes will receive a $100 donation from Akard.
“Last year we had 10 different organizations and raised over $600, which was great,” said Akard.
Last year’s winner was Behavior Analysis for Autism Indy.
The pumpkins also will be featured at the Boone Village Halloween Party on Oct. 29 when hot dogs will be served for a donation to a favorite pumpkin.
In addition, pumpkin photos will also be featured on Akard’s Facebook page with information about the organization and upcoming projects.
