Vandals smash dozen of pumpkins at Ohio church

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio church’s money-raising pumpkin patch has been destroyed by vandals who smashed holes in the gourds.

Officials at Fellowship Lutheran Church in Columbus were filling trash bins today with dozens of pulverized pumpkins that had been decorating the church lawn. The church says it appears the pumpkins, worth an estimated $1,000, were attacked with a golf club.

For 10 years, the church has sold pumpkins to raise money for its programs for the needy and to help members of an Indian tribe who grow the pumpkins.

Pastor Michael Sayre says as people in the community hear about what happened they’re sending contributions. He says one donor compared it to buying “invisible pumpkins.”