Hits & Misses
Hit: We’re entering the home stretch of the 2000 Turkeys fundraising campaign as families prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with a delicious meal surrounded by family and friends. But for nearly 19,000 families in Washington County struggling to make ends meet, the holiday can be a stressful time. The goal of 2000 Turkeys, in partnership with Food Helpers, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and City Mission Boxes of Love, is to make sure that families in need can enjoy Thanksgiving with loved ones, without worrying about where their holiday dinner will come from. This year is especially challenging, as local food banks have seen a dramatic uptick in the number of people seeking help, and delays in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits have caused those numbers to surge. “The demand is high. Our client list has tripled in just the past two weeks,” Food Helpers President and CEO George Omiros said last week. It’s not too late to help. To make a donation, please send a check, payable to 2000 Turkeys, to 2000 Turkeys, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, Pa., 15301.
Hit: Fourth Street Barbecue in the Mon Valley moved a step closer to being sold, possibly saving the jobs of more than 200 workers, many of them immigrants. Mark Welch, court-appointed receiver for the frozen food business, said this week that he received an asset purchase agreement. “If I can get this agreement done and through the court, it looks like we got a sale,” he said. Welch was appointed by a federal judge at the request of attorneys representing Huntingdon National Bank, which filed suit against Fourth Street Barbecue for millions of unpaid loans. To secure the loans, the owners of Fourth Street put the business up as collateral. Fourth Street Barbecue initially revealed plans to close at the end of October, which would put 252 employees out of work. However, that notice was extended through November. Founded in 2014, the company, also known as Fourth Street Foods, manufactures frozen food products for branded and private label retainers throughout the United States. The company has operations in Fallowfield Township and Speers, but uses Charleroi mailing addresses.
Hit: The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has come up with a new way to connect those battling addiction with available services. The sheriff’s office has created a metal challenge coin to issue to those who are in need of addiction and recovery services. The powdered metal coins are engraved with the sheriff’s office logo on one side and the phone numbers of Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on the other. It also bears the phrase, “United in recovery. You are not alone.” The sheriff’s office purchased 10,000 coins using a portion of opioid funding received by Washington County since September 2024 as part of the nationwide settlement with several drug manufacturers largely blamed for the opioid epidemic. The department is distributing the coins in two waves. “Challenge coins are all the rage. People call our office asking if they can get one,” said sheriff’s office Deputy Elizabeth Davidson. Davidson heard about a Pennsylvania police department that gave challenge coins to people who inquired about mental health or addiction and recovery services. She encourages any groups who are interested in obtaining the coins for distribution to contact the sheriff’s office at 724-228-6840.