With only one month left until The Attic Youth Center celebrates its 20th anniversary, the LGBT youth agency this weekend will be the beneficiary for a family-filled event. Danny’s Farm Market, 930 S. Black Horse Pike in Williamstown, N.J., will host October Pumpkin Palooza from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 19. The event will include face painting, games, a mummy’s contest and food provided by Mike’s Big BBQ. Stacia Fischer, who recently got involved with the planning committee that is putting together the Nov. 16 anniversary gala, organized the event. Fischer said she learned of the Keystone Community Sponsorship opportunity, which challenges donors to raise $1,000, and was eager to lend a hand. “I knew enough people and knew I could make a difference,” she said. “I was originally unaware of all the great things The Attic has done and this event became about awareness, and it’s a challenge to pull resources together as a community.” Fischer said she wanted to create an event that would fuse both her love for Halloween and her passion to bring the community together for a great cause. “I wanted to do something to make a difference and I knew it would be bigger than me and I felt like if I get 20 people, that is the true meaning in getting the community involved,” she said. Fischer said planning the event has also been refreshing for her personally. “It feels really good and has been energizing,” she said. “Every day, I am one step closer to sharing the message about The Attic Youth Center. It is inspirational and feeds your soul when you start seeing it growing.” Her goal of awareness-raising was already realized when she booked the location for the event. Fischer had stopped by Danny’s Farm Market to purchase 100 pumpkins for an event she was originally going to host at her house. When the owner asked her what she was using the pumpkins for, Fischer proceeded to tell her about The Attic. “She wanted to host the event because her best friend was gay,” Fischer said. “She said, ‘Whatever you need, you can have my space.’” Advance tickets for the event are $20 for adults and include one large pumpkin and food from Mike’s Big BBQ, and $12 for children over the age of 5. Children under the age of 5 get in for free. Tickets can be purchased at . Tickets will be $25 at the door for adults and $15 for children. For more information on the event, visit www.facebook.com/theoppevent.
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