If you’re driving down Chocolate Avenue, either heading into Palmyra or returning to the heart of Chocolatetown, you’re bound to pass family-owned businesses, however, one has been there longer than most – Wilhelm’s Hardware.
With a mission of enrichment in mind, Wilhelm’s owner, Dan DeLong Jr., decided to give back to the community at the close of the last growing season by donating seeds to local schools. Adding his prior board leadership experience into the mix, he wanted to enrich the community in ways that “wouldn’t burden the taxpayers.”
One of the recipients of the seeds was Hershey Elementary School, and the response was positively heartwarming.
Wilhelm’s was soon filled with cards and colorful drawings from Hershey Elementary students, all expressing their gratitude towards the business and its donation.
“They were all hand-written, and they’re all beautiful,” DeLong said.
Another beneficiary of the seeds donation was Gardenz for Growth, a Palmyra-based program aimed to provide sustainability education for local students.
Hershey Elementary School teachers Mrs. Siminitus and Mrs. Wood with the seed donation basket. Photo: Valerie Pantanelli.
Delong emphasized the hard work of Hershey’s PTO director, Valerie Pantanelli, for “being the bridge” between Wilhelm’s and the school, as well as doing “all of the legwork” of the donation process.
“Dan has donated gift cards to the teacher raffle for years and last year [he] mentioned that he had a surplus of seeds,” Pantanelli said. “Dan offered to donate seeds to any teachers that could use them with their students.
“Teachers shared that they will be using some of the seeds during the science unit about plant growth, and some of the kindergarten teachers will be using the yellow beans and sugar snap pea seeds in their classes, as it corresponds well with one of their weekly stories about Jack and the Beanstalk.”
The students have not yet planted the donated seeds, but that lesson is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
“The seeds were offered to every teacher in every grade from kindergarten through 5th grade,” Pantanelli said. “All of the seeds were in a basket and portioned out by class, so teachers could easily take what they needed.”
She added that all of Hershey Elementary’s teachers were “so appreciative” and that 4th grade teachers Mrs. Siminitus and Mrs. Wood are planning to use the seeds in their next lesson at school.
Rich Family History
Wilhelm’s Hardware, founded in 1881, was started by John Henry Wilhelm in Myerstown.
The business was purchased by Arthur DeLong and his partner George Brandt in 1953. Eighteen years later, Wilhelm’s opened its doors at 1805 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey.
A family-run business, Arthur sold Wilhelm’s to his son, Dan DeLong Sr. in 1995. And in May of 2024, DeLong Sr. passed the torch to his son, Dan DeLong Jr.
DeLong Jr., a graduate of West Chester University, shared that his wife works as an assistant superintendent within the Shippensburg School District, and education has always been of utmost importance to him, his family and the business.
As for the donation of seeds, DeLong emphasized the work of all involved in the process and his unending gratitude towards his employees.
With the outpouring of love and support from the community, he added that donating seeds to local schools and programs would “absolutely” become a Wilhelm’s tradition.
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