Nov 19, 2015 8 min read

There are six days left until Thanksgiving, and the 2000 Turkeys campaign is making its final push to raise funds so that Washington County’s underemployed and unemployed families can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

You’ve probably bought your bird, stuffing mix and cranberries, or you plan to pick up your dinner ingredients soon.

Today, consider doing this: stop by the Main Street Farmers Market parking lot on South Main Street in Washington, across from the Observer-Reporter and make a donation to the 2000 Turkeys campaign.

Range Resources is matching all donations made to 2000 Turkeys on Friday, up to $25,000. So your $15 donation is really worth $30.

Range Resources employees have volunteered their time to collect donations for the campaign, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Range employees and volunteers also will have collection points at two intersections: Wheeling and Main streets and Chestnut and Main streets.

Also on hand will be members of the 2000 Turkeys board, including Tim Solobay and David Rhome, sporting a turkey costume and a pilgrim costume, fulfilling their pledge to do whatever it takes to encourage people to donate to the fund drive.

WJPA Radio will broadcast live from the parking lot, and WJPA disc jockey and 2000 Turkeys board member Pete Povich (who will not be dressed in a Thanksgiving-themed costume) will also appear.

2000 Turkeys is aiming to raise $100,000 to make sure that our neighbors who find themselves down on their luck also enjoy a holiday meal.

At Thanksgiving, most of us take time to reflect on the good things in our lives: our families, our homes, our good health. With the recent turmoil throughout the world, we are even more grateful for our blessings.

But according to the Greater Washington County Food Bank, there are at least 5,000 families struggling to make ends meet this year (that’s more than 19,000 men, women and children), and relying on the assistance of the food bank and its 45 pantries. Families must meet income qualifications and register with the food bank to participate in the program.

Said Hillary Salmonsen, marketing director at the Greater Washington County Food Bank, “The statistics are rising, and we have to meet the need. Without 2000 Turkeys and the community support, we couldn’t do it.”

So far, hundreds of businesses, organizations and individuals in Washington County have answered to the call to lend a hand, including the McDonald-Cecil Senior Center, whose residents collected $125 in pennies, which Mike Wise, coordinator at the center, dropped off last week, and Advanced Orthopedic, who raised $185 by holding a jean day at the office.

We’ve raised $46,618, and we’re grateful for the checks and money that have poured in.

But we still need your help. The 2000 Turkeys campaign is a little more than halfway short of its goal.

Stop by the parking lot to drop off a donation, or drop a check in the mail to 2000 Turkeys, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, PA 15301.

Let’s make sure that all of us enjoy a happy, healthy Thanksgiving Day.

Thank you to the following, who have donated to the campaign:

Ronald Paul Matteson $50

Voiture 676 Wash. Co. 40 & 8th $300

Donald & Joyce Bailey $200

Jerome Skowvron $20

Robert & Vernice Phillips $50

Ben Coleman & Family $100

Washington County Young Marines $300

Michael & Margaret Ross $50

C Ross & B E Clayton $50

John & Kathy Belleno $30

J P A Land Co., Inc. $250

Scott & Debbie Falconi $50

Warren Sickles $15

Anonymous $40

Patricia Orbin $10

In memory of William Ursic Sr. by William B Ursic III $100

Larry & Ann Kelley $25

Bob & Diana Iams $25

Maureen Schulte $30

Judith & David Davis $20

Walter Lekwart $50

James & Dana Baughman $50

Kenneth Carter $30

Pauline Manko $25

Diane & Mario Rossero $20

John & Mary Beth Morton $75

Mary Lou Campbell $20

Dolores Niedbala $10

Gary & Mary Ruozzi $30

First Baptist Church of Burgettstown $100

In loving memory of my precious son, Christopher from Saundra Edmond $50

Anna & Ulysses Yarbor $50

In memory of James E. White by Shelby Ann & Robert Harvey $25

“Trinity Area Cafeteria Retired Angels” $50

Virginia Johnston $15

Joan & James Warren $20

Mary & T C Drewitz $58

Congregation at First Christian Church, Washington $100

Richard & Nancy Lebec $25

Dennis & Andrea Raymer $40

Raymond & Linda Ruffalo $50

David & Joyce Chambers $100

In memory of Dave D’orazio from Gary & Amy Bostich $50

Susan Gross $50

Bill & Rose Ann Massengill $30

Gaylord & Helen Haines $30

Lawrence & Kathleen Welsh $100

In loving memory of my husband Lew Radomile, Jr. by Jeannie Radomile $50

Jim & Sandy Craig $50

Mike & Doris Sorice $25

Shirley Mastnock $300

Don & Nancy Grandon $50

Margie & Art Sullivan $200

Michael & Deanna Warco $25

Washington-Greene Counties Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Assoc. $50

Fred & Joanne Caruso $50

John & Ann Dean Hart $40

Paul & Marie Taylor $20

Frank & Janet Angott $30

Charles & Betty Haynes $50

Ann & Lawrence Garner $25

Amy & Jay West $30

In memory of Gordon B. Greenlee by Barrett & Sara Greenlee $100

In memory of Charles W. Cummins by Ethel Cummins $25 Michael Pendleton $25

Marie Pollok $20

Dennis & Linda Sarchet $25

Fidelity Class of First Baptist Church $50

In loving memory of Donald Burnside by Patricia Burnside $25

In loving memory of Donald Burnside by Single Phase Electrical Services, Inc. $25

In loving memory of Donald Burnside by Big D’s House of Tees, Inc. $25

Mildred Carter $50

Howie & Michele Millick $30

Dolores Bednarski $100

Carol King Linton $30

April & Eric Betzner $25

Dave & Sandy Ross $30

Rocco & Massimo Falconi $100

Klaus & Mel Behrens $100

Debra Wilkes $25

William & Susan Peffer $25

Walter Maslik $25

In memory of Lisa & Floyd Melone from Joanne Melone $50

M. Tucker $30

Mark, Caroline, & Melissa Hall $35

Jean Howard $25

Debra Howard-Snyder & George Snyder $25

Kathie & John Stepko $75

In memory of Raymond & Mary Kifer by Charles & Peggy White $100

Anthony Brocco $30

Don & Marie Kunselman $50

Dennis & Linda Barsody $25

Virginia & Paul Lukas $20

Mac & Sheila Carter $50

Williard & Janet Jobes $100

Edna Sawchuck $25

Edward & Carol Weekley $100

Terry & Karen Bennett $50

The Wong Family $40

Lois Navrotski $50

Mary Cessar $30

Ola & William Jackson $20

David & Mary Standiford $100

Mark & David Standiford $100

Mary Bier $35

Ronald & Marjorie King $200

Edward & Ingrid Kerr $20

Alice Livingston $25

Jack & Kathy Egers $30

In memory of son-in-law Scott Lash by Roy & Judy Schulte $50

Linda & Mark Brezinski $25

John J. Stanko $25

In honor of my Grandchildren by Doc K. Jones $50

In memory of my wife Sandra by Jack McCabe $25

William & Deborah Murdock $50

Phillip & Terriann Lovejoy $25

Wayne & Judy Masquelier $25

Kathleen Voigt $50

Sandra Hart Pettit $50

Clyde Wilkinson $30

Matrix North American Construction $250

Danny & Douglas Benedetti $20

In memory of my father Robert Garrett by Linda Ciappa $50

Joyce & Clyde Hood $50

George & Carol Stein $35

Betsy Behanna $50

Harry & Mary Haas $25

Frank & Karen Gasper $30

Larry & Karen Headley $50

George & Joan Postlethwait $25

Mike & Pat Ferrari $25

Peggy Ball & Otis Spicer $50

Janice Swart $20

Sharon & Robert Goulding $25

Dennis & Lu McWreath $25

Pamela Siegel $500

Sherry & Charles Kelley $50

Gary Gene & Anne Waters $25

Anonymous $370

Rebecca & Robert Washabaugh $50

In loving memory of our parents, Anne S. & Andrew J. Carrozza and Howdy Naser, Sr. by Stush & Debbie Carrozza $40

In loving memory of Phyllis Fowler, Joyce Fowler & Michael Sparks by Bob Fowler & Family $100

Elizabeth Crumrine $50

James & Lynn Smoyer $25

Robert & Virginia Somplatsky $40

George & Mary Ann Lucas $30

George Haddad $200

Fairhill Manor Christian Church $50

Gerard & Nancy Weiss $100

NA & WJ Kuzy $25

Roberta Mong $25

In memory of our sons Joey & Gregg by Joseph W. & Nina M. Tustin $50

Richard & Terri Hall $25

In memory of my aunt, Dorothy Stampfle by Melvin F Krek $20

Charles & Judith Yoders $25

Ruth Fullerton $20

Dave, Roseanne & Justin Nichols $25

Ginny L & Wm. C. Watson $50

Nancy Stoicovy $25

Linn & Becky Brookman $40

Charles & Diana Allen $25

James & Vanessa Beatty $20

In loving memory of my husband Frank E. Britko by wife Linda $25

In memory of Frances A. Cushma by husband Tom & Family $20

Stephen & Katherine Rodgers $25

William Backner $10

United Methodist Church of Claysville $250

Pioneer Trails Cluster $200

In memory of my father William Quinn by his son Roman Quinn $25

Ed & Beverly McVeigh $20

Judi Goodwin Tanner & Terry Tanner $50

Anonymous $50