Nov 11, 2023 By Karen Mansfield staff Writer kmansfield@observer-Reporter.Com 8 min read

With less than two weeks remaining until Thanksgiving, the 2000 Turkeys campaign is grateful for the Washington County individuals, businesses and organizations who have stepped up to make sure food-insecure families in Washington County can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

Donations large and small have been coming in to help us reach our goal of providing a turkey and fixings for our neighbors in need.

2000 Turkeys works in partnership with Food Helpers of Washington County, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and the City Mission to provide dinners to food-insecure Washington residents, including senior citizens and children.

All of the donations – the $10,000 contributions from Pennsylvania American Water Co. and Noble Environmental Services, and the checks of all sizes from clubs, schools, and service organizations – make a difference.

One of the county’s longest-standing food drives, 2000 Turkeys began in the 1980s as a seasonal food campaign to help the unemployed. It has grown into an annual tradition for individuals, companies, schools and organizations looking to help families in need throughout Washington County celebrate the holiday.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity has hit a record high.

The USDA’s food insecurity report shows people living in food insecure households in the U.S. in 2022 increased to 44 million, including 13 million children.

The campaign will work hard over the next two weeks to raise money to make sure that no family in Washington County goes without a Thanksgiving meal.

That’s an increase of 31% for all individuals and 44% for children from the previous year, the highest rate and number of individuals and children since 2014 and the largest one-year increase in food insecurity since 2008, according to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

“The recent USDA report is heartbreaking, but unfortunately not surprising,” said Lisa Scales, president and CEP of the Pittsburgh Food Bank. “We’ve seen trends at the local level that support this data, including more than 1,800 calls to our call center for food assistance in September alone. We distributed 6% more food in the past three months than we did during the same time last year. We are operating on increasing pressure on multiple fronts: the growing number of people experiencing food insecurity and the increased cost of running our operations.”

The food bank served more meals from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, that it did during the peak of the pandemic.

That’s why donations to 2000 Turkeys are as important as ever.

There’s still time to help.

On Nov. 15, Range Resources employee volunteers and students from local school districts will hit the streets to accept donations to benefit 2000 Turkeys and the food banks.

If you would like to donate to the 2000 Turkeys campaign, please send checks, payable to “2000 Turkeys,” to 2000 Turkeys, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, PA 15301, or drop off a check at the front desk of the Observer-Reporter or WJPA Radio, co-sponsors of the campaign.

Let’s make this happen!

Thank you to the following for their generous donations:

Bentworth Education Association, $250

James Sickles Jr. and Rosemary Sickles, $25

John Pomykala and family, in memory of Sue Pomykala, $100

Anonymous, in memory of John and Teresa Toth, $100

Connie, Mark, and Melissa Hall, $50

David Cushma, in memory of parents Thomas and Frances Cushma, $30

Marian R. Sanders, in memory of my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry F. Sanders, $1,000

Elizabeth and C. Thomas Lawrence, $100

Twila and Jordan Cain, $50

Betty Smith, $100

Nancy and Ed Bedwell, $200

Harry and Jane Ladley, $100

George Augustine Jr. and Deborah Augustine, $100

John Morton, $50

Susan Yeager, $50

Joseph and Carolyn Rendziak, $50

Mike and Heidi Neville, $25

Louise Skiviat, $25

Thomas and Bonnie Wheeler, $50

Kristi Bonus, $25

Paul and Lisa Miller, $100

Kristen and Scott Weiss, $50

Douglas and Pamela Caldwell, $50

Edward Meena, $50

Luz and Kathy Armenini, in memory of Harry and Kay Shumaker, $50

Thomas and Terri Seiler, $50

James and Marlene Richey, $25

Lydia Hafenbrack, $40

Donna Yanosik, in memory of husband, Jim Yanosik, $100

Danny and Debbie Trubiano, $50

William Domick, $45

Diane Drazick, $50

Paul and Nancy Krepps, $50

Phyllis Ullom, $50

James Hancer, for Mar, $50

Scott and Mundy Fergus, $100

Frank Byrd, $20

Fawcett United Methodist Church Men, $100

Fawcett UM Church, $100

Mark and Karen Chaney, in memory of Roberta Bannister, $50

Earl and Jane Phillis, $50

Mrs. Robert Kirk, in memory of Kathaleen Kucic Lawson, $50

Knights of Columbus Washington Council 1083, $200

Bob Thomas and Linda Boes, $100

Natalie Biagini, $50

Ted and Cheryl Marchich, in memory of Bandit, a best friend and a great horse, $20

Robert and Sharon Muntan, $50

Lewis and Leslie Golubosky & Lewis’ Dusting Angels, $182

Pamela Siegel, $300

Mary Ellen Brosick, in memory of Nick, $25

West Alexander United Methodist Woman, $200

W. Nelson McCullough, in memory of Sylvia McCullough, $25

Frances Betarie, in loving memory of Phil, $25

Charles and Catherine McCullough, $20

Jeff and Linda Paxton, $50

James and Judith Femia, $25

Raymond J. Ruffalo Jr. and Linda Ruffalo, $50

The Balta family, in memory of Dr. Andrew Balta and son Brian Balta, $100

Paul and Janice Kersnick, $150

Karen Creek, $110

Harold and Cora Narigon, $50

James and Lynn Smoker, $25

Frank Cargiene Jr. and Debora Cargiene, $100

Bernard and Barbara Desmond, $25

Rudolph and Denise Yurkovich ,$25

Clyde Hood Jr. and Joyce Hood, $50

Deborah and Scott Sethman, in memory of Butch, $100

Emily Kumor Shade, $50

Marianne Sopko and Albert Sopko Jr., $35

Beverly Pabian, $25

Alvin and Mary Jo Ford, $50

Roseanne, David and Justin Nichols, $40

Carole Pankas and Marcy Pankas Cadez, in memory of John Pankas, $100

Bud and Nancy Bell, $75

William C. and Ginny Watson, $50

Susan and Stanley Michalski, in memory of our daughter, Karen Michalski, $25

Phil and Janis Armstrong, $100

James and Lois Sims, $25

James Arthur Anderson and Paula Huber Anderson, $25

Katherine Dhanse, $45

Bonnie McClure and Ronald Schaub, $25

Rebecca Hall, $50

Daniel and Katherine Bayer, $25

Donna DiNardo, $50

Roy Lounder, in memory of my wife, Linda, $50

TOPS PA 1641 Washington, $50

Frances Rugg, $50

Carl Zellie Jr. and Bonnie Zellie, $100

George and Linda Pescho, $30

David and Deborah Dague, $50

John and Linda Fetchen, $35

Timothy and Jacqueline Takah, $50

Ronald and Elizabeth Ventura, $25

Nina Gysegem, $150

Donna, Debbie, and Doug Farabee, $30

Barbara Dixon, $25

Patricia Wishnok, $25

Raymond Mathieu, $25

Bob and Donna Connolly, $100

Gloria Suzanne Kline and Mary Kline, in memory of Eric Kline, $50

George Haddad, $200

Steven and Susan Wolf, $250

Vicki and Eugenio Trapuzzano, $50

Nick and Linda Ciappa, in memory of Robert Garrett, $50

David and Diana Meeks, $200

Leonard and Eileen Laabs, $200

Peggy Lou Hays and Albert Nelson, $25

Kiwanis Club of Washington, $200

Frank and Suzanne Gomez, in memory of Adam Getto, $100

Joseph and Christina Tomecsko, $50

James and Gail Balent, $50

Saundra Edmond, in honor of the loving memories of my son, Christopher, and granddaughter, Tearney, $100

Donald Battistone, $50

Velma and Wray Iddings, $40

William and Maureen Premro, $25

M. Tucker, $50

Charles and Betty Roberts, in memory of Byron Smialek, $50

Patricia and William Brooks, in memory of our parents, $25

Chuck and Nancy Neff, $40

John and Carol Linton Ritter, $100

Betsy Behanna, $25

Conrad and Gerrie Rossetti, in loving memory of our daughter, Karen Rossetti, $50

Alex and Pat Soulakis, $50

Debra and Timothy Trent, $50

John and Ann Dean Hart, $50

Janet and Willard Jobes, in memory of our parents, $100

Gail and Mark Matera, $100

Edward Krepps II and Annette Louise Chop, $50

Sandra Hart Pettit, $50

Anonymous, $50

United Mine Workers of America, $100

Dr. Robert C. Evans Jr. and Elaine C. Evans, $100

Ellen Sams, $25

Frank and Joanne Mazzotta, $50

Mary Louise Frost, $50

Paul and Carol Love, in memory of Byron Smialek, $50

Donald and Beverly Zofchak, $35

Edward and Darlene Sheppard, $25

David and Aryiro Spencer, in memory of Alex Spencer, $50

Nancy and Edmond Coning, $100

Fawcett United Methodist Church Elizabeth Harman Circle, $100

Jean and Richard Cholak, $40

Charles and Peggy White, in memory of Raymond and Mary Kifer, $100

Michael Poness, $50

WPT&E LLC, $200

Dana Stainbrook, $50

Robert Phillips, $100

Gary Bostich and Am Braun-Bostich, $100

Peter and Amy Cimino, $25

Clyde K. Knupp Jr. and Lisa Knupp, $100

Paul and Cheryl Skiviat, $50

Joyce and Janine Skirchak, in loving memory of our parents, Nick and Josephine Y. Skirchak, $300

Douglas and Cathy Silbaugh, $100

Frank and Karen Gasper, in memory of our parents, $50

Sam and LaVerne Messina, $20

Greater Canonsburg Senior Citizens Center of Washington County, $300

James Hands, in memory of Dorothy Hands, $50

Hawkins Home Post Aid Association, $300

Bruce and Linda Oros, $50

Terrence and Linda Belcher, $50

Glen Martin, $50

John P. Friedmann, Attorney-at-Law, $100

Noble Environmental Specialty Services, $10,000

Pennsylvania American Water Co., $10,000

Anonymous, $100

Marilyn C. McIlvaine, $100

Ellen and Robert DeBlasio, $50

Mary L. Bier, $50

James and Rebecca Jackson, $100

Lower Ten Mile Presbyterian Church, $250

Kenneth and Linda Flood, $50

Roland and Loma Parry, $50

Laraine and Ronald McGinnis, $25

Jeff and Janis Chico, $50

Robert Anderson, $35

Robert Garrity, $25

Edward and Debra Braddock, $25

Mark and Ellen Bachmann, $500

Richard and Rose Chaney, $25

Fred W. Smith Jr. and Barbara Schumacher, $50

Walter Lekwart, $100

Bruce D. and Kathy Bernard, $100

Douglas R. and Ann Hewitt, $50

Sandra and Gary Barbarow, $10

Bernard and Sharon Halpin, $100

Dottie, Matt, Jason and Eric, in memory of Perry Pinto, $25

Matthew and Darlene Farabee, $25

Jacqueline Scarborough, $100

All Saints Greek Orthodox Church Philoptochos Society, $100

Ray and Sue Will, $50

John Baldigowski Jr. and Linda Baldigowski, $100

Phyllis and Paul Bednar, $50

Janice Swart, $20

Thomas John Day Jr. and Michelle Day, $100

Cindy and Gene Beattie, in memory of Frank Larimer and Eunice Carter, $100

Mark Geary, Attorney-at-Law, $25

Strnisha Excavation Inc., $1,500

Tom and Peggy Bashline, $50

Arms Club of Washington, Pa., $1,000

Sprowls City Appliance, $500