No pumpkins? Rats!: Wilmette rodent problem dooms Trinity pumpkin patch

A lawn taken over by pumpkins of all shapes and sizes has long attracted local fall lovers to Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette.

Unfortunately, this year, town officials believe it will also attract another type of pumpkin lover.

Citing its ongoing fight with rats, the Village of Wilmette denied the church’s application to host its annual pumpkin patch fundraiser.

“It’s with much regret that we had to cancel this year’s pumpkin sale at Trinity,” Village Manager Mike Braiman wrote to The Record; “however, our priority right now is to ensure we get the rodent infestation under control as quickly as possible due to the public health and quality-of-life concerns rats present.”

Braiman said the Village discussed the situation with its rodent-control vendor, Envirosafe, prior to making the decision to deny Trinity’s permit.

Trinity United Methodist, 1024 Wilmette Ave., is located within one of three areas that are particularly problematic for rat activity this year. Braiman said the Village has made progress on its rat problem, but the pumpkin patch would undermine its efforts.

Trinity United Trustee Tom Board told The Record that rat sightings have been reported near the church, but not on church grounds. Still, he said, the church is “understanding” of the Village’s position.

“In some regards, if the Village wanted to have it canceled in order to make sure we weren’t feeding rats, then it is probably the right thing to do for the village overall,” he said. “We are happy to be good neighbors in that regard.”

The pumpkin sale is Trinity’s largest fundraiser of the year and has been a popular autumn attraction in Wilmette for 25 years. For the second time in five years, however, the church will go without it. It was also canceled in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.

According to Trinity’s Pumpkin Patch webpage, the program annually brings in to the church about $20,000, funds that are used to support a variety of service work locally and globally. In the past, the event has funded the Wilmette Food Pantry, the Wilmette Emergency Fund, local Boy Scouts and a ministry at Northwestern University, as well as missionary work in Africa.

The pumpkin patch, which typically runs through October, is also more than a fundraiser. Board called it a vital part of the church’s annual outreach.

“It’s an important activity for us,” he said. “As such now we are looking at needs that continue to exist that we support annually with funds from this. We’re looking for other ways to support those and asking people who frequent the pumpkin patch to donate to support the missions.

“(The pumpkin patch) is also a substantial effort by the church to be within community. It raises our visibility quite a bit. The entire congregation participates, and we meet a lot of new people. We’ll miss that perhaps as much as the funds themselves.”

To support Trinity United Methodist, visit the online donation portal.

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