2000 Turkeys heads into homestretch
To paraphrase the Beatles, the annual 2000 Turkeys campaign is getting by with a little help from its friends.
Make that a lot of help.
With less than three weeks remaining until Thanksgiving, 2000 Turkeys has raised $67.041, thanks to the individuals, families, schools, businesses and organizations who have pitched in to help provide Thanksgiving dinners for unemployed and underemployed Washington County residents who might not otherwise be able to enjoy a holiday meal.
Every $15 raised provides a Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey and all the trimmings, for a family of four. The goal is to raise $100,000 to serve the more than 5,000 families – or more than 20,000 individuals – in need.
“We’re always happy to help 2000 Turkeys because it’s a worthwhile cause,” said Gus Bauer, president of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, which donated $500 to the campaign. Bauer presented the check to the 2000 Turkey Board at WJPA-Radio station Friday.
2000 Turkeys is the largest single fundraiser on behalf of the Greater Washington County Food Bank and its neighboring pantries. The food bank has established eligibility guidelines for families who receive the Thanksgiving dinners.
Also on hand was Darlene Smialek, the wife of the late Byron Smialek, one of the founders of 2000 Turkeys.
She presented a check for $1,000 in memory of her husband.
“Everyone knows Byron’s passion for 2000 Turkeys. If he were here today, he’d say be thankful for our many blessings, but don’t forget about the people who are less fortunate than us,” said Mrs. Smialek.
Donations can be made to: 2000 Turkeys, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, Pa. 15301.
Thank you to the following, who generously donated to the 2000 Turkeys campaign:
WJPA, $1,000
Michael S. Siegel, $1,000
Donation in the name of Salvature Michael Pitzarella, $200
In loving memory of my husband Lew Radomile Jr. from Jeannie Radomile, $50
Joyce and Jaime Johns, $25
James Allen, $10
David and Lori Lyle, $25
Carol Brownlee, $25
Opal Brownlee, $25
Michael and Elizabeth Bradwell, $100
George Reynolds, $50
Connie and Ronald Burlina, $50
Judy and George Veselcich, $25
Paul and Marie Taylor, $25
Rich and Judy Carlson, $25
Nicholas and Wendy Kuzy, $20
Joann and Norman Nadalin, $50
Karen Paletta, $20
Bob and Martha Williams, $25
Phyllis Ullom, $50
Gerald Lowery, $100
Deborah Lowery, $100
David and Judith Davis, $20
Mary Ann and Alfred Friend, $20
Tops Pa. 1641 Washington, $50
Donald and Christine Sherge, $25
Jim and Sandy Craig, $30
Richard and Darlene Eckles, $20
Alvie and Eleanor Emerick, $25
Adrienne Guelker and Richard Dotts, $20
Al and Marianne Sopko, $25
Jean Howard, $20
Debra Howard-Snyder and George Snyder, $20
Richard Stephens, $20
Della Adams, $50
Charles Profio, $40
John and Dorothy Zollars, $20
Joseph and Lonna Washinski, $25
In memory of Byron Smialek from Adela and Don Fisher, $25
Bernard and Barbara Desmond, $25
Pete and Amy Cimino, $25
Linda and Mark Brezinski, $25
Mary Gafric, $50
In memory of Byron Smialek by Jim and Helen Hunter, $200
Frank and Rose Marie Coppola, $25
Scott Piasente, $75
In memory of MJ from Richard Pisarcik, $40
Charles Grose, $25
In memory of Ulysses and Ronald Yarbor from the Yarbor Family, $50
Ellen and Robert Deblasio, $50
Joseph and Kathleen Progar, $40
Heidi Pankopf, $50
Becky and Tom Wild, $100
In memory of Lindsey (Red) Stewart from Henry and Fern Miklic, $20
In memory of Byron Smialek from Kathy and Jon Stevens, $100
Don and Nancy Grandon, $50
In memory of Byron Smialek from Rose Gillespie, $25
Mary Carlton, $30
Patricia and John Kozon, $20
Edna Sawchuck, $20
Ada Pifferetti, $50
Thelma Zadach Conn, $25
In memory of Aunt Kathryn Craig from Bruce Burnfield, $25
Kenneth Carter, $40
Ken and Sharon Opal, $100
In memory of Edward A Crawford from the Beatty Family, $25
Dianne and Kenneth Rigby, $25
Aryiro and David Spencer, $30
Emilie Poplarchik, $20
William and Susan Morgan, $25
Mary and Duane Kiger, $25
David and Sandy Ross, $25
Joseph and Denise Sharp, $50
Sharon and Dale Whitmer, $25
First Christian Church, Washington, $150
Gist Wylie and Linda Hepburn, $30
In Loving Memory of our parents Nicholas and Josephine Y. Skirchak from daughters Joyce and Janine, $200
Terry and Karen Bennett, $25
In memory of Byron Smialek from Christie and Keith Campbell, $25
In memory of Billy Quinn by Angie and Roman Quinn, $25
In memory of Ralph Pallesco from Sally and family, $25
Slovenian Savings and Loan of Canonsburg, $200
Fairhill Manor Christian Church, $50
Tom and Judy Humphreys, $25
Ella Waters, $25
Mark and Cindy Courtney, $50
James Stretavski, $25
Dick and Mona Wilson, $20
In Memory of Johnette Sekora from Tristin Sekora Coyle, $20
Washington County Detachment 1138 of the Marine Corps League, $300
Patricia Wishnok, $20
Raymond Mathieu, $20
In memory of my parents Hazel and John Stose from Catherine J Thomas, $30
In memory of wife, Mom, and Gram Jackie Jarosz from Debbie and John Brower, $30
Eugene and Anita Sicchitano, $15
Larry and Joanne Romboski, $50
Bud and Nancy Bell, $40
Madeline and John Chopp, $25
Carol and Ronald Worstell, $25
Gary and Kathy Moninger- Ford, $100
In memory of Byron Smialek from Melvin and Carolyn Shoup, $50
Janice Swart, $25
In memory of Robert C Price from Genny Price and Family, $50
Michael and Phyllis Pirnik, $25
Liberty United Methodist Church, $200
David and Janice Bramer, $50
Nancy Polen, $20
Angelo and Shirley Alberta, $25
Paul and Beth Anne Spilak, $30
William and Deborah Murdock, $50
Joyce and Jack Holland, $25
In memory of our sons Joey and Gregg from Nina and Joseph Tustin, $40
Barry and Sue Beels, $50
James and Jean Kusky, $10
Carolyn Yorke, $25
Rosemary Curran, $10
Sherri and Ronald Van Horne, $50
Robert and Virginia Somplatsky, $25
In memory of Ron Rubis from Deborah Rubis, $20
Lisa and James Novak, $50
In loving memory of my husband Terry Zaken from Marlane Zaken, $30
In memory of Floyd Melone from Joanne Melone, $25
In memory of Joseph Jackovic by John and Carole Pankas, $100
Julia Rock, $20
In memory of Bill Burns by family, $25
Maureen Sharratt, $25
Thelma Strosser, $40
In memory of Pio and Helen Rossi from Family, $25
Sam and Joyce Mankey, $50
JoAnn Ireland, $10
Julia Patterson, $25
Ed and Beverly McVeigh, $20
Carol Barnes, $25
Kathleen Voigt, $50
Theresa Cook, $25
Noreen Kubincanek, $25
In memory of Frances Cushma from Tom Cushma, $25
Jim and Gloria Tershel, $25
Patricia Salandra, $30
Joyce and James Eustis, $25
Anne Westhoven, $25
In Memory of Lois Jean Bercosky from Chuck and Brenda, $25
Mary Seghi, $20
Mike and Pat Ferrari, $25
In honor of Mrs. Stephanie Mozina from Mike and Julie McLaughlin, $100
Karen and Frank Zrimm, $30
In memory of our classmates from Claysville High School- Class of “56”, $50
Nancy Bular, $50
Phoenix Welding of Pa., $100
Mark and Joyce Knestrick, $25
Marian and John Wagner, $50
Walter Lekwart, $25
Robert and Darlene Caldwell, $50
In memory of our friends Paul and Byron by Mary Ellen and Tom (Sandy) Hummell, $40
Bill and Betty Bores, $25
Robert Mary, $25
John and Lauretta Darby, $50
Francis and Toni King, $25
Dave and Roseanne Nichols, $25
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 902, $50
Lauren and Tom Pirozzi, $30
Garvin and Rosalyn Putt, $50
Ron and Teresa Koehler, $25
In Memory of King Rainier from Cynthia and Stanley Karoleski, $20
Rosemary and William Tarr, $30
Davidson United Methodist Church, $250
Jim and Patricia Romano, $20
Karen and Robert Luksis, $250
Selma Missel, $20
William and Cynthia Kline, $50
John Somsky, $50
Jerome Skowvron, $15
George and Denise Joseph, $30
J P A Land Co. Inc., $500
In Memory of Byron Smialek from Anonymous, $20
Mr. and Mrs. Terry Grove, $10
Jeff Cumer, $100
Warren Sickles Nov. 11 Birthday, $20
In memory of Karen Rosetti from Gerrie and Conrad Rossetti, $25
Charles and Joyce McCrerey, $25
Gaylord and Helen Haines, $20
In memory of William Ursic Sr from William Ursic III, $100
David and Margaret Winters, $20
Richard and Nardis Hardie, $30
James and Judith Femia, $25
Charlie and Bonnie Hines, $20
Perry and Dorothy Pinto, $25
James and Nancy Proudfit, $100
Betty Zirwas, $25
Mary Ann and Michael Wessel, $50
John and Mary Beth Morton, $100
Nancy and Harry Moore, $25
Caitlyn Burroughs, $10
In memory of Tom Sypula and Tommy Sypula by Charlotte Sypula, $25
In memory of King Rainier from Virginia Mickitsch, $25
Bertha Stimmell Circle West Wash. United Methodist Church, $25
Jim and Sally Reedy, $25
Anonymous, $140