Shortly before the Richmond News published a story about George Gens’ pumpkin patch being looted by thieves driving luxury cars, the farmer took his tractor over to nearby Thomas Kidd elementary school, to donate pumpkins for each student.
Kidd principal took to Twitter Wednesday to post a photo of Gens in the act.
“After what I read in the paper, what’s been happening to him and his fields, I thought I would share it,” said Kathy Pantaleo.
“I went to him a couple of weeks ago saying I wanted to do a school-wide pumpkin carving. I asked if I could buy some pumpkins. He said, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no charge.’ I said, seriously, I’ll pay $2 a pumpkin. He insisted otherwise,” said Pantaleo.
And so, Gens got on his tractor and crossed Steveston Highway with about 160 small pumpkins, carried on a large pallet, for each student. This week, he dropped off even more to make sure everyone had one for the special day.
“He’s just such a nice man. He’s very humble and he doesn’t want recognition,” said Pantaleo.
The News was unable to reach Gens on Thursday.
Gens told the News last week he had to take the unprecedented step of fencing off his pumpkin patch after people began stealing them at night and even at times during the day.
Richmond residents were shocked to learn many of the thieves were driving luxury cars.
Gens has had theft concerns before. Last year, he declined to be interviewed by the News after people repeatedly filled their trunks with his cabbages.
