SMOKEY POINT — The Marysville Noon Rotary’s “Pumpkins for Literacy” program will return to the Smokey Point Plant Farm Oct. 10-31, with a “soft opening” Oct. 9, according to Kelly Richards, this year’s Pumpkin Patch chair.

“Over the last 10 years, we’ve raised $200,000 for the Marysville, Lakewood and Arlington school districts,” Richards said. “Last year alone, we sold about 160,000 pounds of pumpkins. That yielded $1,000 each for almost every elementary school in those three school districts.”

While the Marysville Noon Rotary dispenses these funds to promote school literacy, they’re not specifically designated for the purchase of books. Pumpkins for Literacy also raises enough money to purchase hard-bound dictionaries for every third-grade student throughout the school districts. In addition, Pumpkins for Literacy donated $4,000 to the Marysville Custodial Department Committee to fund the printing of nearly 200 copies of “The Happy Custodian,” a children’s book about custodians written, illustrated and edited by Marysville School District custodians.

“We offer family fun for a low price at the Pumpkin Patch,” Richards said. “There’s hay rides and train rides and bouncy houses and an animal farm provided by the Future Farmers of America. We enjoy putting this event on, and seeing the smiles it puts on kids’ faces.”

Large groups can book tours through the Pumpkin Patch by calling North County Bank at 360-659-7100.