Vandals Hit Church-Charity Pumpkin Patch, Smashing Gourds on Church Wall Over 3 Days

Vandals who've repeatedly smashed pumpkins against the exterior wall of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are cutting into the profits the church will donate to local charities from its annual sales.

Angela Viney, the senior warden at the church, told Fox Carolina that the pumpkin patch, which is comprised of 2,900 pumpkins, is a 20 year tradition, and is viewed by hundreds of people in the community every year.

"It's sad that someone would jeopardize what we're trying to do here," Viney said. "So now police are keeping an eye on the pumpkin patch and reviewing surveillance video from church cameras and a nearby bank. So stop and consider what you're doing, not only to a church but also to your community."

"There were some (pumpkins) thrown up against the wall of our church," she added. "There was also some damage to the wooden cut-outs that we use."

Teresa Talbert, a local resident who stopped by the patch on Tuesday, the day after it had been vandalized for the third time, described the pumpkin patch as "special" and noted its benefit to the community.

"It always does good when you pay it forward," she said. "I'm sure the church is doing this for a good cause."

The money collected from the patch is donated to several ministries throughout the community. The recent slashing of many of the pumpkins, however, is cause them to rot, making them harder to sell.

Fox Carolina reported that the vandals hit the patch Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Ther local police department is investigating the vandalism.