Nov 10, 2012 8 min read

Anne Frank wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

The hundreds of people who have mailed in checks, purchased turkey placards and raised money for the 2000 Turkeys campaign are doing just that – making a difference in the lives of Washington County families.

With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, the 2012 campaign is approaching $50,000 in donations to provide Thanksgiving dinners for those in need in Washington County. Each $10 donation provides a turkey dinner with all of the trimmings for a family of four.

2000 Turkeys – which started in 1983 as a seasonal food campaign for the unemployed and has grown into the largest single fundraiser on behalf of the Greater Washington County Food Bank and its neighborhood pantries – aims to raise $100,000 each year.

On Friday, Donald Bailey, public relations coordinator for Washington County Marine Corps League Detachment 1138 and executive officer for the Washington County Young Marines, appeared at WJPA – a 2000 Turkeys sponsor, along with the Observer-Reporter – and presented checks on behalf of the Young Marines and the Washington County Detachment Marine Corps for a total of $400. Bailey and his wife, Joyce, also donated $100 to 2000 Turkeys.

“We do it every year. There are so many people out there who need a nice dinner for the holidays, You have more than 18,000 people who need help; that’s a lot,” said Bailey. “I tell my Young Marines, you don’t know how lucky you are to have what you do. I explain to them what we’re doing for 2000 Turkeys and why. I’m so thankful for what we have and we’re happy to help out.”

For the past two years, Pittsburgh Penguins players volunteered their time to sign autographs, with all of the proceeds going toward 2000 Turkeys. However, because of the National Hockey League lockout, the fundraiser, which last year brought in more than $17,000, did not take place – a tough blow to the 2012 campaign.

There is much work left to do. The $10, $20 and $25 checks that people send in, long considered the backbone of the grassroots campaign, are more important than ever, and every dollar makes a difference as Thanksgiving approaches.

Donation jars are available throughout Washington County, and turkey placards are on sale at the Canonsburg and Washington Shop ‘n Save stores.

To donate, please send a contribution payable to “2000 Turkeys” to P.O. Box 2000, Washington, PA 15301.

The following graciously contributed to the campaign:

Bill & Susan Oliverio $25

Patricia Dhayer $20

Harold Johnson $25

Eleanor & Lawrence Long $50

Roberta Bannister $20

Mary Ann Wessel $50

Mary Carlton $30

W. Bryan Pizzi II, attorney $50

Cliff & Teri Waldron $100

Nancy & Harry Moore $25

Catherine Hopkins $10

In memory of my husband Ron Elliott, my parents Frank & Josephine Pintar from Denise & Ronald Elliott $50

Bonnie & Phil Belfiore $25

Raymond & Patricia Fratini $25

Jack & Joyce Holland $25

William & Eileen Higbee $20

Judith & Robert Buckingham $50

In loving memory of Don Trautman by wife Lil $50

Carol Brownlee $25

Opal Brownlee $25

Belmont Christian Church $100

In memory of my son, Christopher Atkins from Saundra Edmont $35

Mary Ellen & John West $25

Vivian Prentice $25

In memory of John F Kimenski from Beverly Kimenski $30

Dale & Sharon Whitmer $20

Thomas & Rebecca Wild $100

Alice Livingston $20

Melvin & Martha Polen $25

Heather & Eric Quedenfeld $50

Deacon & Cathy Dhanse $20

Richard & Nardis Hardie $25

Donald & Thelma Conn $25

Isiminger’s Penzoil Inc $50

Isiminger’s Automotive Service Center $50

Bill & Cindy Kottner $100

Mark & Caroline Hall $30

George & Mary Alice Jones $200

Donald & Marguerite Stark $25

Madge Mihalek $20

Janet Gowern $20

Cursi Drilling company, Inc. $100

Nick Cursi $100

Sara McCullough $25

Tops PA 1641 Washington $50

Charlie & Joan Hockenberry $30

James & Betty Abbott $25

Margaret & Joseph Scears $20

Ferne Rogers $50

Mary Jo & Randy Ford $20

Harry & Marian Sanders $100

Dora Black $20

Gist Wylie & Linda Hepburn $25

Anna & Raymond Zedel $50

Albert & Roberta Jackson $25

Carolyn Yorke $25

In memory of my wife Leota Carter from Kenneth Carter $30

John & Mary Beth Morton $70

Kathleen Voigt $50

Rose Morgan $25

Rebecca & Robert Washabaugh $50

Richard & Lydia Kozloff $30

Marsha & Donald Fazekas $20

David & Joyce Chambers $20

Robert Thornton $25

Agnes Belfiore $15

Don & Nancy Grandon $30

In memory of Todd Hammond from Jackie & Dave Hammond $25

Jody & Frank Sivie $20

To honor Byron Smialek $25

In memory of Jeremy Spina from Frank & Mary Jo Spina $100

Washington Lions Club $500

Bill & Betty Bores $25

Morton & Caroline Moore $25

Bob & Marian Edgar $25

In memory of Ryan Phillips from Elaine Chadwick $20

Victoria & Charles Knox $10

Eric & Evelyn Volas $25

Ellen & Robert Deblasio $50

Joe & Cathy Sistek $25

Virginia Johnston $10

Barry & Sue Beels $50

Phyllis & Ted Dutton $25

Art & Margie Sullivan $50

Joyce & Greg Ramsey $25

James & Lois Sims $25

James & Susan Jaap $25

James & Shirley Cavanaugh $25

Joyce & Clyde Hood $25

Dorothy & David Brecht $20

Kathy & A. Dennis Bell $50

Debra Howard $25

Jean Howard $20

Jane & William Ashmore $20

In memory of James E White from Shelby & Robert Harvey $25

Mary Bier $50

John & E. Ruth Nolan $50

Don & Chris Sherge $25

M. Tucker $50

Betty Jane Tucker $50

William & Sheila Black $100

Helen & Nick Samila $25

Mary Pounds $20

Kelly & Richard Reginelli $20

Thomas & Monica Rendine $25

Nancy Ogburn $25

Route 19 Bowling Center $50

In memory of Jason Homerosky from Mike & Julie McLaughlin $200

Independent Club of Muse $25

Francis & Toni King $20

Theresa Cook $50

Tanger Outlets Washington Corporate Employees $83

Mackenzie Wagner $88.20

VFW #927 Washington $700

George & Denise Joseph $25

Georgiana & Robert Riley $250

Nancy Koren $25

Rocco & Massimo $200

Lucy Corson $25

Donna & M Duane Walker $25

Ada Pifferetti $25

Margaret Rankin $25

In memory of my mother Mary Braddock & brother Jesse Braddock from Pat Braddock-Steiner $25

Conrad & Gerrie Rossetti $25

Dennis & Linda Sarchet $25

Samuel & Mary Post $50

Ray & Linda Ruffalo $30

Madeline & John Chopp $25

Ronald & Frances Henderson $30

Patrick & Deborah Guyton $25

Autumn & Michael Gordon $25

Phyllis Ullom $50

Janet & Anthony Conn $25

Jack & Gail Mathias $25

Pete & Amy Cimino $25

Mark & Sandra Bonanni $20

In loving memory of Phyllis Miller Fowler, Bob Fowler $50

Dominick & Donna Trimarki $50

Margaret & John Hoffman $25

In memory of Wayne Armstrong from Dan & Carol Van Sickle $10

Terri & Thomas Seiler $50

Donald & Beverly Zofchak $20

Lois Gardner $25

Julia Rock $15

John & Barbara Aloia $25

Albert Rush $20

Jim & Helen Hunter $100

In loving memory Joyce Pushey Fowler who went to be with our Lord on 9-11-11, Bob Fowler $50

In memory of Joan Yoest from the Beatty Family $25

Joan & Frank Steiminger $25

Donna Henderson $20

Jean Stout $20

Clyde & Lisa Knupp $50

Ken & Peg Aul $25

In memory of son Ralph Pinkney Jr from Ralph & Janice Pinkney $20

Connie & Ronald Burlina $50

In loving memory of Dolly & Emmett Estep from Richard & Jean Cholak $25

Nancy Stoicovy $25

In memory of Jonathan Martin from Sherri Martin $30

Richard & Patty Morflak $25

Virginia & Paul Lukas $20

Dan & Mary Ellen Dye $25

In memory of John & Patricia Dunn $50

Mason Supply Company $25

Richard & Margaret Irey $50

Greg & Lori Cowden $25

Howard & Shirley Carl $25

Rich & Judy Carlson $25

Cris Hamilton $20

Elaine Johnson $35

John & Lillian Burns $60

Yaszmin, Douglas, Brady & Ellionna $25

Bob & Dot Moninger $30

Bob & Olive Martin $20

Bill & Cookie Kazakewicz $25

The Wong family $20

Thomas Rogers Jr. & Joan Rogers $25

Ralph & Sally Pallesco $20

James & Marlene Webb $100

Jane L. Hunt $25

Thomas & Jean Wilt $25

Charles & Diana Allen $25

Edward & Donna Sukel $30

Robert & Kandice Veres $25

Fairhill Manor Christian Church $50

Arthur Hunt $25

Patrick & Dennis Kostelich $20

Robert & Betty Hodgens $25

Richard & Mary Rozzi $25

Patricia A. Winters $25

Cynthia P. Greco $50

Paul & Lisa Miller $50

Helen Abel $20

Kenneth & Mary Louise Briggs $50

Janet Bof & Gloria Lorenzato $20

David & Roseanne Nichols $25

Fernee Parascenzo Dantonio $25

Gerald & Roberta Walker $20

Hunt-Kennedy Post No. 639 $100

In memory of Pio & Helen Rossi from family $25

Russell & Deborah Knight $100

Charles & Elaine Croft $25

Robert Garrett & Linda Ciappa $25

In memory of Peg Allen from Cindy & Justine Semack $10

In memory of Peg Allen from Ted Allen $20

In memory of Peg Allen from the Doug Allen family $20

In memory of Earl Miller from Mary Miller $20

Anonymous $1390