Meet the woman who lit up a dozen Christmas trees to help the hungry, this holiday season.
In Other News #5 // Celebrating the stories of everyday heroes among us.
Hospitality has always come naturally to Keely Childers Heany.
“Well, I’m Southern,” she says with a laugh. “And I’ve always wanted to hold an open house.”
A native of West Virginia, Keely has made Lancaster County, Pa. home, nearly all of her adult life. A former style magazine editor, she and her husband, along with their two daughters, turned a Millersville landmark—a large Victorian mansion—into a wedding and event venue, as well as their home. Built in 1885, Pineapple Manor shines with Keely’s stylish touch—after several rounds of careful renovations.
In between the flurry of weddings, bridal and baby showers that grace her calendar, Keely had only organized one open house, a “before tour” prior to renovations. That is, until this year. Not only did she have an opening on the calendar, but her 5-year-old daughter was asking how the family could help others this Christmas season. That request sent Keely into motion, planning a 2024 open house.
On November 30, Pineapple Manor opened its doors “to benefit neighbors in need” via The Loft, a nonprofit food and clothing bank. Visitors each paid $10 to be donated to The Loft, whose food pantry is utilized by 300 area families weekly.
The Loft got its start nearly 15 years ago by operating out of the loft of a local church—hence the name. As grassroots efforts grew, the organization’s food pantry moved to another church, and then to its current home within Millersville University. Partnerships with nearly 20 businesses—including bakeries and markets, churches, clubs and organizations, are the lifeblood of The Loft, providing volunteers, financial and food donations. There’s even a Glean Team that goes out to partnership farms to “glean” or do one final cleaning or harvesting of farm fields’ produce—which is then distributed to local families in need.
Keep in mind, The Loft—and many other grassroots-oriented food pantries—are helping the hungry in Lancaster County. Even in one of the top ag-producing counties in the entire U.S., there are people in need. To illustrate the contradiction, consider that Lancaster County is:
The #4 county in the U.S. (of 3,077 counties) in the production of poultry and eggs
The #1 county in the U.S. for layers (laying hens)
The #10 county in the U.S. in the production of milk from cows
The #7 county in the U.S. in animal sales
And Lancaster County alone produces 21.6% of all Pa. agriculture
The most recent figures show that 49 million Americans—one out of every six people in the U.S.—used food banks or pantries in 2022. That’s according to Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief and food rescue organization.
Within Lancaster County, more than 47,000 Lancaster County residents (nearly 9% of the population) live in food insecure households, confirmed by a recent study by The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
While the numbers and statistics can feel overwhelming, hundreds of food banks nationwide, along with hundreds of grassroots community efforts like The Loft, are making a difference in the lives of those in need.
As for Keely, inspired by her daughter’s request to help others, she recognized she had something of value—her property itself, along with her decorating talents—that she could monetize for a good cause.
“We’ve always wanted to do this—I often joke with people if I had a penny for every time somebody came and said, ‘I’ve always wanted to see this place,’ I’d have enough money to fix the whole place up,” Keely says with a laugh. “It’s just so special to share it with the community.”
She decorated nearly a dozen themed trees, beginning right after Halloween, including a Nutcracker-themed tree, a tree filled with heirloom family ornaments including some from her grandparents’ collection, and even a “tree” created from a dressmaker’s mannequin.
“I’ve always loved decorating—it really brings me joy, and I’ve always wanted to share it with people,” she says.
Keely’s hospitality included cookies and cocoa, and other treats. Her recipes and styling are the foundation of Pineapple Manor’s events, year-round.
“I just love to feed people—food is my love language. It’s how I show love and care for people,” says Keely.
But on November 30th, she took that care a step further by raising money to help her local food pantry.
Signs and reminders of her hospitality are everywhere—even in the name she chose for her home.
“The pineapple is a sign of hospitality,” Keely says. “When the house was for sale, we walked in and saw the pineapple hutch in the dining room [including stained-glass pineapples], and it was a sign that this house was meant to be ours—it felt so right.”
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I truly hope you are having a warm and wonderful holiday season,
Karen