In mid-October, the Peckham Materials Pleasant Valley Plant held its bi-annual open house and food drive, with both being wildly successful, according to Christopher Hopkins, Peckham Industries community liaison. More than 150 Pleasant Valley residents came to the quarry for an afternoon of fun, food, games, education and charity.
Food drive donations were collected at the entrance of the open house. All donations were collected to support the local families that depend on the Pleasant Valley Food Pantry. The collected donations filled two large SUVs and were delivered by the local employees of the quarry.
The open house included a tour of the quarry, a free raffle prizes, pumpkin painting, pumpkin chucking, cookie decorating, and more. A food truck provided complimentary meals for all attendees and there were tables filled with many cookies, brownies and apple cider treats. The guests enjoyed the refreshments while they sat under the large tent in the shade from the autumn sun. One activity that is always among the most popular with the children is the sand pit, where the kids could load and dig in the sand with toy dump trucks and excavators.
Another highlight from the afternoon with both the children and adults was the pumpkin shooting cannon, which shot pumpkins within the quarry. The pumpkins were shot up to 500 ft. in the air and a few even reached the back wall of the quarry.
The Peckham team is always excited to have the opportunity to educate the community about its operations and invite fellow community members for an open house filled with education, food and fun. Since acquiring the facility in 2012, Peckham Industries has enjoyed being part of the Pleasant Valley community as well as continuing to work as a conscious corporate neighbor and give back to the community.
A family-operated company since 1924 with its headquarters in Brewster, N.Y., Peckham Industries employs nearly 1,000 people at more than 25 facilities located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.