Pumpkins dressed up as minions, monsters and men were on display on Oct. 30 as College of DuPage staff members participated in the first Great Pumpkin Decorating Event in the Student Resource Center cafeteria. COD Cares, the college’s charity organization that aims to promote service on campus, organized this first time event after being prompted by college President Robert L. Breuder. All staff at COD were invited to participate in teams by department.

COD Cares received pumpkins for decoration and donated the finished products to the Little Friends of Naperville according to the Community Relations Coordinator of COD Cares, Ami Chambers.

“Our pumpkins were donated by Jewel in Wheaton and the decorated pumpkins will be donated to Little Friends of Naperville.”

Little Friends is a nonprofit organization that helps children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, according to its website.

Chambers says Little Friends was chosen because COD Cares had not previously worked with the organization. The most appealing aspect about Little Friends, however, was their widespread presence in the area.

“They have many locations so they could use twenty pumpkins, these pumpkins will be spread around the community to decorate and be festive,” Chambers says.

The pumpkin decorating contest took place in the Student Resource Center cafeteria where teams worked on creating unique pumpkins with a variety of themes. The creations ranged from deep-yellow “Despicable Me” minion pumpkins to intricately painted “The Night Before Christmas” themed pumpkins.

Jessica Miciak, an administrative assistant for academic affairs, and Trish Ambrosio, a program advisor, decorated two pumpkins for the competition.

“This is my first time decorating a pumpkin for COD but I have decorated pumpkins before. I am a seasoned pro.” Miciak says.

The team had a pumpkin which featured intricately painted witches and another pumpkin which drew its features from “The Night Before Christmas.” As for the inspiration for the pumpkins, Ambrosio says she drew ideas from what she was familiar with.

“I am a witch and Wizard of Oz fanatic.”

The winners of the Pumpkin Decorating contest were awarded Culinary Market Gift Certificates. In first place was the Human Resources department, followed by the Learning Commons and in third place, the Student Life office.

While prizes were something staff members strived for, Chambers says seeing the staff bond together for charity is the most fulfilling thing for COD Cares.

“This is something a little light-hearted where they can have fun and also give back to the community. That is what COD Cares loves.”