Pumpkins HOPEe: A Disability Awareness fundraiser

By Kyla Smulski

The Office of Intercultural Affairs (OIA) and Projects for Purpose collaborated to create Pumpkins HOPe (House of Possibilities), a fundraiser for HOPe for Disability Awareness Month. The fundraiser sold hand-crocheted pumpkins in the Lower Commons on Monday, October 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, the 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Wednesday, the 29, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.  

Erica Dabanka ‘26 was running the fundraising table on Wednesday; she works as a work-study student in the OIA office.  

“The faculty at Stonehill were asked to create these pumpkins, and they were all made by hand. The OIA work study worked on pricing, but faculty worked on the pumpkins. They had to make one to keep and make one to give,” she said. “I think it’s a good and fun interactive way to get HOPe’s mission across while also raising funds.” 

HOPe provides a respite for people with disabilities; the program came to Stonehill in 2009. Organizations such as Best Buddies have emerged from this partnership and are beneficial to the Stonehill community. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month; OIA and Projects for Purpose wanted to ensure the Stonehill community was aware.  

“It’s Disability Awareness Month, and OIA works to promote heritage-related months, so it was important to celebrate those with disabilities. I think sometimes it gets overshadowed by other things within Stonehill culture. It's definitely something OIA wanted to focus on this month,” she said.  

That same spirit of awareness and inclusion is also reflected in the work of HOPe, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities.  

“HOPe shares resources, they're very interactive with their members. We are creating some sort of liaison between Stonehill and HOPe because not many Stonehill organizations work with them. It's another way to connect with the community outside of Stonehill.”  

Dabanka reiterated the importance of the Stonehill community's awareness this month.   

“I think it's more than just the financial means, it's more than the money we are sending. I think even conversations, people asking about what it's for, we are spreading word about the organization and the month overall. It's about spreading awareness,” she said.