Be a Part of the Pumpkin Patch Project!
It’s October, and you know what that means… Halloween is just around the corner!
This season, we are excited to participate in the Pumpkin Patch Project, a community event created by A Child’s Eyes and the Truffles the Kitty Organization. This project brings together families and communities to spread awareness for amblyopia and vision impairment in children during the month of October.
What is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia is a condition in which a child has reduced vision in one eye. It affects about 3 out of every 100 children. Typically, the child is required to patch their stronger eye or use vision-impairing eye drops to help improve vision in the other eye. Wearing an eye patch can be very challenging for young children, as it can interfere with peripheral vision and depth perception. While amblyopia can lead to permanent vision problems if left untreated, early detection is key to helping the child develop normal vision.
How to Get Involved
You and your family can help spread awareness by participating with us in the Pumpkin Patch Project! To participate, decorate and patch one of the eyes of a jack-o’-lantern. Then, place the pumpkin outside your door to designate your home as a “scary free zone” for children with amblyopia and other types of low vision. Participants are asked to make sure their trick-or-treating area (e.g., a front porch) is well-lit, and to avoid jumping out or surprising visitors.
Here’s an example:
Check out the Pumpkin Patch Project’s Facebook page for more inspiration! And here’s a lovely Reddit thread about a young boy whose aunt and uncle helped him decorate a pumpkin with an eye patch to match his own.
You can also get more information and resources, including double-sided information cards and patch templates to make your own patches out of everyday materials, at the official Pumpkin Patch Project website. Use these resources to help spread the word and encourage others in your neighborhood to participate!
Enter to win a free Echo Dot Smart Speaker from AdaptiVision!
If you participate (we hope you will!), please take a photo of your pumpkin and share it on our Facebook page! The photo with the most likes will WIN a free Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation Smart Speaker. Our contest will open on Facebook starting October 11.
Here again are the complete instructions, for quick reference:
- Decorate a pumpkin and patch one of the jack-o’-lantern’s eyes. (Be sure to take a photo of your jack-o’-lantern and submit it on our Facebook page for your chance to win! Contest opens Oct. 11.)
- Place the pumpkin outside your door to designate your home as a “scary free zone” for trick-or-treaters with low vision, including children and their caregivers.
- On Halloween, make sure your trick-or-treating area is well-lit. Avoid jumping out or surprising visitors.
Photo Contest Official Rules
Photo Contest Official Rules
To enter, post a comment on our Facebook post with a photo of your patched jack-o’-lantern. Please post a still photograph (no videos or gifs). Only one entry per person, please. To cast your vote, “Like” the comment with your favorite photo. You may vote more than once. Contest begins 10/11/22 and ends 10/31/22 at 11:59pm EST. All entries and “Likes” must be posted by the deadline.
Winner will be selected based on the number of “Likes.” The comment and photo receiving the most “Likes” will be designated the winner. In the event of a tie, AdaptiVision reserves the right to select one winner at AdaptiVision’s sole discretion.
Winner will be notified via Facebook messenger on or about 11/01/22.
In order to receive his or her prize, winner must respond within five (5) business days following notification. Winner will be asked to provide a shipping address for the prize. If winner does not respond within the designated timeframe, AdaptiVision reserves the right to select an alternate winner. AdaptiVision shall have no liability for winner’s failure to receive notification. If winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to respond within five (5) business days from the time award notification was sent, or fails to provide a shipping address for the prize, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner selected.
The winner of the contest will receive a free Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation smart speaker (current retail value: approximately $39.99). No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at AdaptiVision’s discretion. Any and all prize-related expenses, including without limitation any and all federal, state, and/or local taxes, shall be the sole responsibility of winner. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for AdaptiVision to use winner’s name and photo contest entry for purposes of advertising without further compensation unless prohibited by law.
Further, by submitting a photo to the contest, you understand and agree that AdaptiVision shall have the right, where permitted by law, to print, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media, without limitation, your photo submission and name for digital marketing (including AdaptiVision’s website, social media, and email marketing channels), news, publicity, information, trade, advertising, public relations, and promotional purposes, without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.
In addition, by entering this contest, you represent and warrant that your entry is an original work of authorship, and does not violate any third party’s proprietary or intellectual property rights. If your entry infringes upon the intellectual property right of another, you will be disqualified at the sole discretion of AdaptiVision. If the content of your entry is claimed to constitute infringement of any proprietary or intellectual proprietary rights of any third party, you shall, at your sole expense, defend or settle against such claims. You shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless AdaptiVision from and against any suit, proceeding, claims, liability, loss, damage, costs or expense, which AdaptiVision may incur, suffer, or be required to pay arising out of such infringement or suspected infringement of any third party’s right.
Note: this is a family-friendly event. No profanity, violence, or mature content is permitted. AdaptiVision reserves the right to disqualify and remove any inappropriate or fraudulent entry, including any entry that does not comply with the rules and guidelines provided herein.
Sources
Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) | National Eye Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/amblyopia-lazy-eye
A Child’s Eyes – Glasses for Infants and Children. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.achildseyes.com/
Pumpkin Patch Project – Truffles the Kitty Organization. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.trufflesthekitty.org/programs/pumpkinpatchproject