Festive decorations held a greater purpose for fourth grade students at Chippewa Elementary School as they crafted pumpkins to raise money for the DezyStrong Foundation established by Matthew DiStefano, a Sachem High School North teacher battling cancer. 

As part of the annual tradition, students crafted unique pumpkins to be entered into a competition in which the students voted for the winner by putting coins into a bag, one for each pumpkin. On voting day, Matthew DiStefano stopped by to thank students for their efforts and to check out some of the crafty creations.