County helps 2000 Turkeys finish strong
Thanks to the generosity of the residents of Washington County, 2000 Turkeys met – and far exceeded – its campaign goal for 2015.
If you’re among the thousands of people in Washington County who donated to 2000 Turkeys, we thank you.
Because of your generous contribution, more than 4,700 families (about 27,000 people) who rely on the Greater Washington County Food Bank each month were able to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner Thursday.
When you sat down at the table with your family on Thanksgiving, the 2000 Turkeys board and the Food Bank hope you ate your Thanksgiving meal knowing your contribution meant Washington County’s working poor, and families whose breadwinners are unemployed or unable to work because of illness or other issues, shared a holiday meal because of your generosity.
So far, the 2015 campaign has earned $141,411.
The campaign always has been a grassroots effort through the generosity of Washington County residents, businesses, schools, churches and organizations who manage each year to come up with clever and meaningful ways to raise money for a worthy cause.
Boosting the campaign this week was a donation of $6,428 from the Duritza family, which owns the Shop ‘N Save stores in Canonsburg and Washington, and customers who purchased $1 turkey placards available at the stores for the past several weeks.
The Duritza family, dedicated to making a difference in the community, has raised and contributed nearly $40,000 for 2000 Turkeys over the past seven years.
Eighty-seven-year-old Steve Samila of Washington, also contributed, making a donation in memory of his wife of 53 years, Dorothy, who died in 2008 from Alzheimer’s disease.
“She was a wonderful wife and I miss her very much. I have a lot of good memories,” said Samila. “I donate in her memory because there are a lot of people who could use it and I’m happy to help out,” said Samila.
Elmer and Judy Ealy of Claysville also contributed to the campaign.
“I think it’s because it’s a local charity,” said Judy Ealy. “You hope you’re helping people in your community.”
2000 Turkeys board member David Rhome, whose family co-owns Sam’s Pizza in Canonsburg with the Passante family, added to the 2000 Turkeys coffers, contributing $1,000 from the Rhomes and Passantes, and customers who donated at the pizza shop throughout the campaign.
All of the proceeds from 2000 Turkeys goes toward providing food for the needy, who meet requirements established by the Food Bank, during the holiday months.
The 2000 Turkeys board – myself, Mayor Rhome, Range Resources corporate communications director Matt Pitzarella, WJPA Radio disc jockey Pete Povich and state Fire Commissioner Tim Solobay – extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s campaign a resounding success.
We hope that there will be no need for a 2000 Turkeys campaign in 2016. But if there is, we will gather on Oct. 1 and do this again.
And we know that Washington County, as it has in the past and did this year, will lend a hand to our less fortunate neighbors.
A final total will be shared next week.
Thank you to the following, who generously contributed to the campaign:
Safeway Termite Company $150
In memory of Jackie Jarosz & John & Bertie Brower & Tom & Betty Ryan from Joseph Jarosz & John & Deborah Brower $50
Daniel & Janice Rowsick $50
Mr. & Mrs,. Edward Imperatore $25
Myra Hatfield $10
CESI\Flotek, Sandra Noe, NE Sales Acct. Manager $250
Suzanne McCord $25
John McNamara & Adele Armann $50
M-Tech, Inc. $100
James & Linda Hull $50
Mark, Gaeta & Markie Copeland $25
Ryan Rupert $500
Tom & Jackie Wilkinson $50
Michael & Mary Ann Wessel $25
Carol & Bill Martin $25
Claysville American Legion Riders $100
In memory of my husband, Michael Stotka by Josephine Stotka $25
Sandra Bown $20
Walter Lekwart $50
Catherine Gennocro $30
Garvin & Rosalyn Putt $20
In memory of my sister Virginia Brown by Eve Wiltrout $100
In memory of my wife, Patricia Silvers & ,my mother, Jean Silvers by George E. Silvers, Jr. $50
Dorothy & Gerald Pattison $30
Remembering Byron Smialek by Thomas & Rena Stanko $100
Betty McAdoo $25
Harry & Nancy Moore $30
In memory of my husband Paul Barnes from Patty Barnes $50
West Alexander United Methodist Women $200
In memory of Donald & Nellie Moore by Jim & Sue O’Bryon $100
John & Patricia Kozon $20
Daniel Halulko $50
Robert C Evans, Jr.D.D.S. $100
Lee Mason $25
Judy & Elmer Ealy $25
Bill & Linda Valek $50 James & Gail Balent $20
Tom & Peggy Northrop $100
In Honor of Fairhill Manor Christian Church by Fairhill Manor Christian Church Croppers $50
John Zavislak $50
Deacons of the First Baptist Church of Washington $100
Anonymous $70
A.M. & P.C. Soulakis $25
Frank & Suzie $25
Dennis & Deborah Standiford $100
Paul & Nancy Krepps $50
Michael & Patricia Miller $25
George E Toward & Mary Jan Broglia $35
Ronald & Barbara Cianelli $50
Gerald & Roberta Walker $30
Chuck & Joanne Morris $50
In loving memory of Stella Lyle Walker by Anonymous $75
Jessie & Cas Korowicki $25
In loving memory of my wife Dorothy Samila by Steve Samila $25
Karen Morgan $25
Connie & Ronald Burlina $50
John F. & Janet M. Bell $50
In loving memory of Nancy Brown by sister Viann $10
Ben & Sherri Coleman Sr. $50
Judith Merzi $100
Joan B Rogers $25
Keith & Denise Rosmus & Granddaughter Avery $50
In memory of Charles Martin from Dan & Joanie Brownlee $25
Barbara & John Aloia $50
Mary & Mark McGuigan $25
Burke Racing Stable LLC $1000
Stephen & Kathleen Leonardi $20
In memory of Lois Rimmey by Nancy & David Rubis $100
Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Ursic Jr. $100
Robert Durzo $50
Richard & Sandra Simms $60
Patty Huffman $20
Liberty United Methodist Church $100
Davidson United Methodist Church $250
Ronald & Geraldine Diaz $100
Bill & Elissa Stein $50
Catholic Men’s Club of St. Patrick Parish, Canonsburg $100
Cindy McManus $25
West Washington United Methodist Church $25
William & Rosemary Tarr $20
Anonymous $220
Jim & Ruth Ann Donaldson $25
James & Roberta McElhaney $50 Cris Hamilton $20
In memory of Bill Laurick by E. Jean Laurick $100
Peter & Denise Coppola $25
Frederick & Terry Hutson $50
Peggy, Tom & Ryan Rohe $30 In memory of Byron Smialek by Margaret Fischer $25
Michael & Margaret Zinsser $50
Joseph Mals $35
Kenneth & Sandra Dyson $40
Patricia & Blaise Hollot $30
Anonymous $15
In memory of my son Stevie Berry by Mom $25
Robert & Joann Lloyd $25
Kang’s Black Belt Academy $1700
Jaden Work $170
Dee’s Record & Video Shop, Inc. $100
R & M Investment Group, LLC $200
Nancy J Ellis $5
Anonymous $5
Mark Alterisi $235
McAdoo’s Inc. $2000
Horizon Properties $1000
Equipment Transport $1000
Wood Group Mustang $1000
Producers Supply Company $525
Casteel Corporation $250
Liberty Lumber $2500
Anonymous $2000
Michael Siegel $2000
Gateway Engineers, Inc. $1500
WJPA $1000
Jessop Recreation Fund $1000
Private James Perry VFW Post Trust Fund $500
Jason Kollar $500
Appalachian Basin Gas $500
Committee to Elect Harlan Shober $500
North Elementary School $440
Advanced Oilfield Services $300
Anonymous $250
Gita Mid Atlantic Chapter $250
Raymond Fraley $200
Jonas Paskevicious $200
Holly Withee $200
Chapman Corporation $200
Guy Marsteller $150
Steinstraw Construction $150
B Graphics $150
From Alex with Love $100
Jason Kollar $100
Terry Hazlett $100
Fanatic Impressions, LLC $100
Valarie S Constanzo $100
Barbara Gibbs $100
Brandon P Neuman $100
Lu Ann Day $100
Nicholas Fuerst $100
Ladies of Charity Immaculate Conception Church $100
Russale Anthes $100
Brian Patterson $100
Charles Moyer $100
Carla Young $100
Robert Hawk $100
Sunnyside Supply $100
Donald Rlobinson $100
John Applegath $100
Horizon Hospitality, LLC $100
Jaks Muffler & Brake $100
William B Klein $75
Nancy Blakeway $60
J R Albitz $60
You’ve Arrived, LLC $60
Richard Blaha $50
Jeffrey Derrico $50
Joanne Reck $50
Kenneth White $50
In memory of Charles Olgesby by Dagmar Oglesby $50
In memory of Florence Silko Navrotski by James Szobota $50
Jason Kollar $50
James Loos $50
Jeffrey McCrackin $50
Joseph Meyer $50
Kenneth Elliot $50
W H Hull $50
Dr. Ryan Snee $50
Joanne Reck $50
Bruce Bernard $50
Lena Potts $50
George Joseph $50
Chad Ziemba $50
Glen Martin $50
Charles Moyar $50
Edward Bruce $50
William Zagorski $50
TPE Industries, Inc. $50
Francis Horne $40
Frederick Merashoff, Jr. $40
Michael Yopek $35
Troy Gehring $30
Jarol DeVoge $30
Megan Agnew $30
Donna Farabee $30
Jacques Cochran $30
Lanny Frattare $30
Friends with Diana $30
In memory of Elmer Sobansky by Howard J Beatty $25
In memory of Dolores Mary by Howard J Beatty $25
In memory of Malik & Friend Families by Alfred William Friend, Jr. $25
Pennie Foil $25
Linda Ritzer $25
George Barrows $25
John Corsie $25
Mark McVeil $25
Grace United Methodist Church United Methodist Women $25
Robert Polan $25
Gary Karluk $25
David Mayer $25
Chris Fronzaglio $25
In memory of Frances Fiorita by Cathy Riggle $25
Bruce Carson $25
Gaylord McMurdy $20
Diane Grada $20
Nancy Verderber $20
Anonymous $20
J W Orndoff $20
Peter Moniodes $20
Leagha Courtney $20
Steve Kouklakis 20
Elaine Valentas $20
Roger Russel $15
John Brown $15
Helen Goodman $15
Gary Stewart $10
In memory of Phillip & Dorothy Scarsella by Giada, Carmina, Salvatore & Vitaliana Pitzarella $75.83
Anonymous $66
In memory of Howard Rhome by Darla Rhome $10
In memory of my loving husband Howard F Rhome from wife Shirley Rhome $25
Michelle Skolikas $25
EQT Corporation $1000
Keith & Susan Flood $100
Gary Gilman $50
In memory of Howard Rhome by the Rhome, Passante families & wonderful customers of Sams Pizza $1000
Justin & Stephanie Domachowski $2000
Ray & Dolores Jennings $50
Tina Katherine Bails $200
In memory of my husband Ernest Koren by Nancy Koren $25
Susan Martinelli $50
Edward & Mary Vensko $25
In memory of Frank Egizio from Ellen & Norman Delvecchio $50
Irene & Pam Carl $25
In honor of Carol Crouch by Cindy & Gene Beattie $25
DRH Auto Detail, Derek & Ronald Humphreys & Pap $25
John & Lauretta Darby $60
In memory of Pat Rapacuk by John Rapacuk $50
Patricia Winters $25
Joe & Patty Grohal $20
Karen & Robert Luksis, Jr. $100
Michael & Janet Racko $45
In memory of my husband John by Rebecca Michalka $50
In memory of Joseph Testa, Jr. from Debbie Testa $20
In memory of my husband, Byron Smialek from Darlene Smialek & Family $100
Jackie & Dave Hammond in memory of Todd Hammond $25
In memory of Donald Daniels by Michelle & David White $50
Phillip & Judith Litz $25
The Bednarski Family $20
Art Jeffers $20
Nancy & William Merkle $20
In memory of Dr. & Mrs. Wilson B Pizzi and Kenneth R Keirs from Bryan & Sue Pizzi $100
Anonymous $50
Cindy Schroth $40
Judy Bowser $20
Merle & Opal Strope $25
Charles E Croft $20
In memory of Andrew & Ann Onderko by Joan & Jerry Cortese $40
Cynthia Reedy $20
In memory of Floryan J, Sr. & Susan Sendora from Floryan J., Jr. & Bernadette $25
MARKWEST Energy $500
Michael & Marie Meeks $50
Jason & Jamie Falvo in honor of AJ & Lauren Falvo $25
In memory of Byron T Smialek by Gerald Lowery & Deborah Lowery $100
Frank Zatta $50
Andrew Vore $50
Faith United Presbyterian Church $100