Not even a downpour could dampen the spirit of the Virgin Islands Justice Initiative’s Fourth Annual Harvest Festival & Pumpkin Patch, which drew hundreds to Magens Bay over the weekend and raised more than $40,000 to support free legal services for residents across the territory.
Originally scheduled for Oct. 11, the event was pushed back a week due to stormy weather — only for heavy rain and flooding to hit again on Saturday morning. But thanks to quick thinking and more than 50 volunteers, including members of the University of the Virgin Islands women’s basketball team, organizers moved the festivities to higher ground and kept the celebration going.
“We were determined to make it happen,” said Casey Payton, Executive Director of the VI Justice Initiative. “Our team came together early that morning, and with the help of our volunteers, we were able to bring our community the Pumpkin Patch, pumpkin carving and painting, face painting, and even a modified tractor hayride route. It was the energy of our volunteers that really brought it all together.”
Families spent the afternoon enjoying fall-themed activities along the shoreline, while every $5 hayride ticket and $20 pumpkin sale helped fund the organization’s Clean Slate Program — an initiative that provides free legal representation for expungements, nonprofit support, and legal education for youth.
Founded in 2022, the Virgin Islands Justice Initiative is the territory’s only 501(c)(3) legal education and defense fund focused on economic justice for the poor and underserved. Since launching the Clean Slate Program in 2023, the nonprofit has helped Virgin Islanders clear criminal records, opening doors to jobs and new opportunities.
“As a former assistant territorial public defender, launching the Clean Slate Program was essential from day one,” said Payton. “Record clearing is complex and can require legal expertise, which we’re proud to provide at no cost. This work helps people regain access to employment, reintegrate into the community, and rebuild their lives.”
The initiative has already helped secure 45 expungements and currently represents 75 individuals across the Virgin Islands in various stages of the process.
This year’s Pumpkin Patch fundraiser was made possible by a wide range of sponsors and community partners, including Perfected Claims, RapierMed, International Capital and Management Company, FirstBank, Island Booksellers, Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas Properties, Merchants Commercial Bank, Magens Bay Authority, Keswick Insurance, and the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, with special thanks to to the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation and Custom Builders for providing the RapierMed Tractor Hayride, as well as the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum and Amy Gibbs for organizing children’s pumpkin painting.
Donations raised through the festival will continue to support free expungement services, nonprofit legal aid, and educational outreach. Applications for the Clean Slate Program are available at vijustice.org.
“Even in the rain, this community showed up for justice,” Payton said. “That’s what this event is really about — bringing people together to make a lasting difference.”
St. Croix Source
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