Nov 7, 2016 5 min read

With a little more than two weeks remaining until Thanksgiving, the 2000 Turkeys campaign is rolling along, thanks to the generosity of Washington County residents, businesses and organizations who are willing to lend a helping hand to their neighbors in need during the holiday season.

Dan Wallach, chief executive officer of Jacksonville-based Shepherd’s Finance LLC and a former Washington County resident, announced a matching fund challenge that has the potential to raise $20,000 for 2000 Turkeys.

For every donation made to 2000 Turkeys from Nov. 4 through Friday, Shepherd’s Finance will match it, up to $10,000.

Shepherd’s Finance, which loans funds to builders to construct homes, supports charitable organizations and causes in areas in which the company has investors, which includes Washington County.

On behalf of the nearly 25,000 people who are dealing with financial hardships for a variety of reasons, we thank you for the donations that have been pouring in from organizations like the Train Gang of Washington (which operates a large train display at Washington Crown Mall), which presented a $500 check to 2000 Turkeys, the Canonsburg Senior Center, and other businesses, churches and clubs.

Every single donation – the $10 and $20 bills paper-clipped to a handwritten note, or checks donated in memory of a loved one, or pennies collected in a peanut butter jar – enables the Greater Washington County Food Bank to provide Thanksgiving dinners to our less-fortunate Washington County neighbors.

So far, the 2000 Turkeys campaign has raised $30,601 to make sure that the more than 6,900 food-insecure families in Washington County can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal this year. Each donation of $15 provides a dinner for a family of four.

We’re working hard to reach our goal of $100,000.

But we still need your help to reach our goal.

The next time you stop by the Canonsburg and Washington Shop ‘n Save stores, buy a turkey placard for $1.

Or, when you buy a cup of coffee at a coffee shop, set aside a $5 for the 2000 Turkeys fund. Drop it off at WJPA Radio or the Observer-Reporter, who have teamed up to sponsor 2000 Turkeys.

And mark your calendar for Nov. 18, when Range Resources will host a fundraising drive in downtown Washington.

Or, if you haven’t done so yet, please drop a check in the mail to 2000 Turkeys, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, PA 15301.

Thank you to the following for their generous contributions to 2000 Turkeys:

In Loving Memory of Paulette Dziak by Ladies With Heart $200

Dick & Carol Earliwine $25

In remembrance of Byron Smialek by Thomas & Rena Stanko $50

In memory of my dear husband Dick Hufford by Lila Hufford $20

In memory of my dear daughter-in-law Jill Moon by Lila Hufford $20

In loving memory of Genieve Polly, Jean Schirosky and Elvie Mera from Julianna & John Schirosky, Jr. $50

Lois Bard $100

Rob & Kathy Devore $50

Donna Carr $20

Donna Henderson $30

April & Eric Betzner $30

Jeffrey Cornish $100

Bonnie McClure $25

Jane Ashmore $20

Ruth Fullerton $20

Order of The Daughters of Penelope $25

Kathy & Jack Egers $50

In memory of my husband Dick Campbell by Beverly Campbell $50

Ron & Linda Luisi $25

Jamie Torboli $50

Janet & Willard Jobes $100

Lawrence & Ann Christine Garner $25

Davidson United Methodist Church $250

Joe & Eleanor DeWitte $25

Allan & Nancy Brooks $50

Betty & Charles Haynes $50

Timothy & Theresa Dunlap $2000

In memory of Debbie Bash-Ford by Dennis Ford $50

In memory of Ernest Koren by Nancy Koren $20

Thomas & Michelle Day $100

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

In memory of Ron Rubis by Deborah Rubis $20

Joseph & Linda Goblesky $50

Earl & Jane Phillis $50

TOPS PA #1641, Washington Chapter $50

Burke Racing Stable LLC $1000

Bill & Maureen Premro $20

Bill & Jennifer Ursic $100

George Haddad $200

Marie & Paul Taylor $20

James & Dana Baughman $50

Jan & Frank Hixenbaugh $50

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

Sandra Todaro $20

Billie Nardozi $100

Mark & Ellen Sams $25

Rose Kobrys $30

James & Debra Horvath $50

Patricia & James Eglar $50

James & Sandra Craig $100

Kathryn Rash $40

Jim & Marlene Richey $20

Don & Chris Sherge $25

Rebecca Michalka $40

In memory of Donald & Nellie Moore by the James O’Bryon family $100

Catherine Dhanse $25

John E. & Ann Dean Hart $40

Jean & Tom Whoolery $50

Darlene & Edward Sheppard $25

Sally Keller $20

William & Jessie Macik $50

Joseph Deluca $25

Dave & Darlene Stotka $150

Richard & Deborah Christy $20

Joan B. Rogers $30

Marianne Povich $25

Kenneth & Catherine Shingle $30

Duane & Mary Kiger $25

InlLoving memory of Ken Foutz from his wife Carol $25

Ada Pifferetti $50

Nancy & Harry Moore $25

Alanna Carroll $50

Raymond & Linda Ruffalo $50

Richard & Barbara Ginther $100

In memory of Jim Yanosik from Donna Yanosik $50

In memory of Harry & Kay Shumaker from Luz & Kathy Armenini $25

In loving memory of Terry Zaken by wife Marlane E Zaken $30

Pete & Amy Cimino $25

In memory of Sharon Norgren from Dave, Roseanne & Justin Nichols $30

Adam & Skeeter $25

Anonymous $205