Visiting Christmas Tree Lane at Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster with her family in 2024, Jill Herr was inspired to act. The controller of Garden Spot Mechanical loved the idea of the tree display, which featured more than 100 live Christmas trees, each uniquely decorated. Visitors were encouraged to vote for their favorite tree by making a donation, with proceeds benefiting local nonprofits.

Herr thought the project would be a great opportunity for Garden Spot Mechanical to support an organization in the local community, so the business signed up to decorate a tree of its own at the stadium in 2025.

"We chose the Manheim Food Pantry because Garden Spot Mechanical is located in Manheim and serves the Manheim area, so we thought it was a good opportunity to give back to a local nonprofit organization," she recalled. "I reached out to them and felt like it was a great organization to raise money for since it was centered around the Manheim area."

The tree was decorated with food cans featuring the Garden Spot Mechanical logo, as well as various food ornaments to highlight the pantry.

To Herr's delight, the tree placed third in the event, earning a total of $3,764 - $3,264 in votes and $500 for placing third.

"We are so excited that we placed third," she said. "My goal was to raise $2,000, which we exceeded."

Christmas Tree Lane, presented by WellSpan Health, raised $47,728 in votes to support nonprofits throughout the community.

The Manheim Central Food Pantry had not been a recipient of Christmas Tree Lane funds in the past, said board member Wendy Hammer, but the organization was excited to participate.

She expects the pantry to receive the funds by the end of January.

"The money will go toward purchasing items that are needed for our neighbors who come to the pantry monthly and to help with the various bills that need to be paid to maintain our building," Hammer said.

The Manheim Central Food Pantry, located at 334 W. Gramby St., Manheim, is open to residents of Manheim Central School District.

"Our mission is to alleviate hunger at no cost and in a caring, respectful manner," Hammer said. "We offer an assortment of canned goods, prepackaged food items, frozen meat, fresh produce, milk, bread and eggs."

The public can support the pantry in a variety of ways, Hammer said, including donating food.

"Food donations that are not expired can be left in the box on the front porch of the pantry or dropped off when the pantry is open," she commented. "And monetary donations help to support the needs of the pantry."

People can also support the pantry's mission by volunteering.

"We are always happy for volunteers to help serve in many different ways," Hammer remarked. "The community is always welcome to come when the pantry to open to visit and see what it is all about."

People who are in need of food assistance can call the pantry's client coordinator at the organization's office, located next door to the pantry at Salem United Methodist Church, 140 N. Penn St. People should call her at 717-664-1097 on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The pantry is open for registered clients on the first, second, third and fourth Mondays and Thursdays of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on the third Thursdays of the month from 5 to 7 p.m.

For more information on the Manheim Central Food Pantry, visit https://manheimcentralfoodpantry.org.