'The Pumpkin Guy': Aspinwall man carves oversized gourds for charity

A giant gourd is helping one man give back.

Joel Keefer, 70, of Aspinwall began decorating oversized pumpkins for the public’s enjoyment 25 years ago.

“I’m known as The Pumpkin Guy,” Keefer said.

Keefer initially began his Halloween tradition of carving gourds weighing more than 1,000 pounds in an effort to spread Halloween happiness outside his home on Fourth Street.

It’s evolved into a public charitable outreach for Keefer and his wife, Wyllie.

Keefer has donated $89,000 over the last decade to Project Bundle- Up.

Project Bundle-Up is a program that provides new winter coats and accessories for children and senior citizens in low-income households.

He hopes to break the $100,000 mark this season.

“Yesterday, I received a check at my house from a person for $1,000 — out of the blue,” said Keefer of the public’s generosity.

Last year, Keefer donated $13,000 to Project Bundle-Up.

Keefer credits his wife with the idea of turning his holiday hobby into a fundraising tradition.

“She said, ‘Let’s do something different,’ ” Keefer said.

Keefer said 600 to 800 trick-or-treaters visit the pumpkin on Halloween night.

“I usually collect about $800 that night, and there’s a sign up telling people to put their donation into the mail slot on our door,” Keefer said.

Aspinwall resident Oliver Hettrich, 8, visited the pumpkin Thursday evening.

“I can’t believe how happy this pumpkin makes me. I feel good that our neighborhood has an enormous pumpkin that helps buy coats for kids,” Oliver said.

This year’s pumpkin was purchased from Parks Nursery in Canfield, Ohio, and cost $1,000.

Folks visit the pumpkin located on Fourth Street and displayed on a bed of straw on a flatbed trailer during the month of October.

This year’s theme is a Cheshire cat design from “Alice in Wonderland.”

Past themes include designs from “Star Wars,” “Spider-Man,” “Frozen,” a monkey, a witch and the artist Pablo Picasso.

“I’m not an artist but I’m good with my hands,” Keefer said.

The largest pumpkin he ever displayed weighed 1,800 lbs.

Keefer moved to Pittsburgh from upstate New York in 1967.

He founded Keelen Brothers Tree Service, a full-service tree company based in Aspinwall, which he later sold to his brother.

Keelen Bros. purchases Keefer’s pumpkin each year and matches up to $500 in donations.

Keefer said a team of about eight men assist him with the carving process, which takes half a day.

After Halloween, Keefer disposes of the pumpkin in nearby woods.

“We hack it up with a machete and roll it down into the woods so the animals can eat it,” Keefer said.

Erin Hettrich of Aspinwall enjoys visiting the pumpkin with her two sons.

“The pumpkin is always one of my favorite parts of Halloween in Aspinwall. It brings people together and does so much to help others in need,” Hettrich said. “Every time I see it, I’m reminded of the good that exists in our community.”