Rita Cretella has always looked for ways to give back to the community. As she raised her daughter as a single mother, she tried to volunteer whenever she could. Rita was involved in the PTA in both the Guilford and East Haven school districts when they lived there. Living in North Haven for the past eight years, Rita has found a variety of ways to give back to her new hometown.

“Volunteering and giving back is important to me because I raised Lauren [Sawicki] for a long time as a single parent and I stepped upon hard times and very good times,” says Rita. “I feel blessed with my success and I love to help others, especially knowing what it was like to be a single parent with a child.”

Rita has also found ways to give back and help people through her work. Over the years, Rita worked for the special education office for East Haven Public Schools for 10 years, has worked as a certified nursing assistant, and ran a regional homecare agency. She also owned Casey’s Closet, a consignment shop, and would often give back to those in need through that.

Rita found her calling when she was working as a care manager for a friend who was an attorney. At the time, she also was caring for her elderly parents. She decided to start her own agency, Stay at Home Care, nine years ago. Stay at Home Care now has offices in North Haven and Branford.

“It’s in my blood and I love it,” says Rita. “I love the process of homecare, getting the proper fit for clients, and knowing they’re being cared for. I started with $250 and took the plunge and now have two offices and 85 employees.”

Rita has not only formed her business around helping others, but she has worked to make it accessible to all in need. As a business, Stay at Home Care also gets involved in the community, including co-sponsoring the upcoming Night at the Pumpkin Patch Drive-Through at the Landing on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24, an event created by Jill DeChello of North Haven Magazine.

“Jill is a nice woman and I’ve done a lot with her this year,” says Rita. “She has some great ideas and this is the first year for the Pumpkin Patch.”

Each night from 6 to 8 p.m., cars can drive through The Landing of North Haven to view hundreds of pumpkins created, carved, and displayed in unique settings. A $5 donation per car is requested with all proceeds benefiting the North Haven Rotary Club.

In addition to Stay at Home Care, the event is co-sponsored by North Haven Magazine and MedicareCT.com. Other donors include Mike’s Towing, Dr. Kathleen Barone, Diamond Zone, Cigarro Mobile, DJ Comics, and C-Sola Painting. Sponsors of all levels are still needed.

Rita and her daughter plan to carve some pumpkins, but with hundreds needed for the display, DeChello is looking for more pumpkin-carving volunteers as well as those to set up the displays. They are also seeking donations of pumpkins, LED lights for the pumpkins, Halloween decorations, and the use of fog machines.

Entries of carved pumpkins will also be accepted on Friday, Oct. 23 at The Landing. Every car that drives through the Pumpkin Patch will receive two ballots to vote for their favorite pumpkin. The winner will receive $100 from Brian Coughlin of Welcome Home Mortgage. Second- and third-place prizes will also be awarded and winners’ pumpkins will be pictured in the holiday issue of North Haven Magazine.

“Everyone who drives through will get to see hundreds of pumpkins,” says Rita. “It’s something different and there will be different exhibits and carvings.”

This isn’t the first time that Rita and her daughter have worked with DeChello. Around Easter time, Sawicki played the role of the Easter Bunny, delivering baskets to children throughout town. In the past, Rita has also volunteered at the fashion shows put on by Carol’s Creations.

When her daughter was younger, she was active at St. Claire’s, teaching catechism and doing other volunteer work. In North Haven, Rita attends St. Barnabas, helping out where she can.

When Rita is not working or volunteering, she enjoys gardening, taking walks, sitting by her pond, and spending time with family and friends. She is also part of the Hamden Chamber of Commerce and the Homecare Association of America. Rita is also considering joining the Rotary.

“After seeing all they do, it’s something I want to look into,” she says. “My daughter and I love North Haven. I’ve met so many good friends. It’s a community that sticks together and helps each other. It’s such a nice, well-balanced town and giving back to it is very rewarding. I’m very happy to do it. It’s trying times so we all need to stick together. If there’s more of this, it will hopefully change things.”

For information on the Night at the Pumpkin Patch, contact Jill DeChello at 203-248-0076 or wincmarket@aol.com.