Oct 25, 2013 7 min read

WPXI-TV and the Meadows Ractrack & Casino helped make the holiday season brighter for struggling families in Washington County Friday with donations to the 2000 Turkeys campaign.

Joe Arena, co-anchor of Channel 11 Morning News, presented the 2000 Turkeys board with a check for $1,000 at WJPA Radio, while Sean Sullivan, vice president and general manager at The Meadows, announced a $10,000 donation to 2000 Turkeys.

So far, the 2013 campaign has raised $33,655, pushing it one-third of the way toward its goal of $100,000 to provide a holiday meal for more than 5,000 families who meet eligibility requirements established by the Greater Washington County Food Bank. Every $15 donation provides a turkey and fixings for a family of four. The 2000 Turkeys campaign is the largest single fundraiser for the food bank.

Arena said WPXI is “thrilled to be a part of” the 2000 Turkeys annual event with WJPA, its Washington County news partner.

Sullivan made The Meadows’ donation on behalf of the employees and Bill Paulos, co-founder of Cannery Casino Resorts, which owns the racetrack. Sullivan said the company wants to help Washington County residents in need.

“We may not see them, we may not know it, but they’re out there,” said Sullivan.

WJPA disc jockey Pete Povich, a member of the 2000 Turkeys board, announced the return of Grace Hopwood, one of the 2000 Turkeys founders, as a board member.

Hopwood, along with the late Wayne Armstrong and Byron Smialek, launched 2000 Turkeys about 30 years ago and recalled how the campaign began as a food drive.

“We tried to build a mountain of food. We’d go to different places and ask our listeners to bring canned food,” said Hopwood, who recently retired. “It was a logistical nightmare, but it started this whole thing rolling.”

Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome encouraged individuals, organizations and companies to continue to pitch in, and noted 2000 Turkeys cans and jars are at stores and businesses throughout the county. The small contributions of individuals, groups and small businesses are the driving force of the 2000 Turkeys campaign.

Anyone interested in donating to 2000 Turkeys can make checks payable to 2000 Turkeys, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, Pa., 15301. Donations are tax deductible.

Thank you to the following, who generously donated to the 2013 2000 Turkeys Fund:

WPXI Channel 11 News $1,000

Washington Square Flower Shop $50

Joan & Frank Steinminger $25

Robert & Joann Lloyd $25

Ronald Matteson $50

Suzanna & Ramon Graham $25

James & Regina Boberg $50

Independent Political Club $50

Gary & Colleen Craig $20

Ruth Metz $100

Belmont Christian Church $500

National Slovak Society Assembly 588 of Avella $100

Raymond & Linda Ruffalo $50

In Memory of Donald & Lorna Tustin & Betty Cowden & Ann Cowden from Don Tustin $30

Frank & Kathleen Morris $20

In Memory of William “Willie” Kerr and Delphini Moss from Dianne Fleischauer $10

Lucille & J C Hilty $25

Michael & Janice Mazza $30

In Memory of Ashley, Dreux & Orlando Jr., Love Mike & Judi Mance $30

Elizabeth Crumrine $50

Dennis & Andrea Raymer $25

Joseph Deluca $25

Marsha Knapik $25

Ray & Sue Wilk $50

In Loving Memory of Robert Luken Hott from Mrs. Lee Hott $20

Pamela Lauff $25

Scouts & Parents of Pack 1138 $50

William & Carol Boardley $50

Jesse & Jodi McNurlen $25

John & E Ruth Nolan $100

In Memory of Byron Smialek from Donald & Joan Zielinski $25

Velma & Robert Hollick $50

In Memory of John & Patricia Dunn from Connie Dunn $50

The Rev. Giard Sayre & Alice E Sayre $50

Donald Brookman $25

In Memory of Margaret J. Mohr from Richard F Mohr Sr. $40

David & Mary Jo Andrews $100

Amy & Jim Barbarino $25

Bob & Linda Harris $20

In Memory of Byron Smialek 1961 H.S. Classmate from Pete & Gerry Graziotto $50

Joyce & Clyde Hood $50

Michael Yopek & Mary Colombo $25

In Memory of Doug Henderson from Naomi & George Ayre $50

James & Mary Jane Smith $25

Erwin & Paula Leppert $50

Bob & Millie Brownlee $10

Kenneth & Catherine Shingle $30

Chuck & Nancy Neff $30

In Memory of Kevin Pentland from David & Sara Hinerman $20

Willaim & Sandra Hewitt $25

George & Mary Alice Jones $200

Katherine & Stephen Rodgers $25

Lagonda Homemakers $50

George & Joan Postlethwait $25

Saundra & Richard White $35

Dennis Bell $25

Wayne & Judy Masquelier $25

Helen Brooks $50

In Memory of Byron Smialek from James & Bettie Dallmeyer $15

Louvilla & Steve Skariot $50

Betty Lue Gordon $40

In Memory of Charles W Elliott from Margaret L. Elliott $100

Morris & Patty Harvey $50

Terri & Thomas Seiler $50

Mary Lou Campbell $20

In Memory of Ralph Pinkney Jr. from Ralph & Janice Pinkney $25

Judy & Marty Beichner $100

Ronald & Frances Henderson $30

Donald H Group $25

Judith & Daniel Spinda $30

Robert & Mary Wilsher $50

Mark & Sherry Conte $50

Janet Abernathy $50

Womens Dartball League $100

Betsy Behanna $50

Charles & Mary Devenney $25

Catherine Gooding $30

Charles Crouse $50

Erma McCullough $25

Sharon & Robert Goulding $20

Karl & Judith Kirschner $75

Bonnie McClure $25

James & Betty Abbott $25

Dr. Thomas & Jacqueline Wilkinson $25

Rhonda Leech $25

Barbara & William Noble $20

Betty & Ralph Holmes $25

George & Beverly Philabaum $25

Jean West $20

Earl & Theresa Dhanse $25

In Memory of Ryan Phillips from Elaine Chadwick $20

Eleanor & Joseph DeWitte $30

Sara & Barrett Greenlee $50

Janet Bof $20

In Memory of Byron Smialek from Harry & Cynthia Washinski $50

Darlene & Frank Tragone $20

Laverne & Herbert Jamison $50

Adolph Schilinski $25

Sheila Carter $25

Isimingers Automotive Service Ctr. Splish Splash Laser Car Wash $50

Wayne & Carrie Casciola $50

Cris Hamilton $20

Della Hritsko $25

Jane Ashmore $20

John & Diana Blicha $25

Lynford & Cathleen Lynch $50

Walter & Sally Dovshek $25

Nancy Blakeway $40

Washington Rotary Club $500

Nick & Helen Samila $25

Ruth & Edward Nagy $20

In Memory of Denise Churney & Dora DePaoli from Loretta Churney $25

Jack & Shirley Mastnock $200

Gary & Amy Braun-Bostich $50

In Memory of Jim Walker from Nancy Walker $30

Dick & Margaret White $100

David & Joyce Chambers $50

In Memory of James O’Bosky (Pap- Pap) & George Kline (Pap-Pap-Pap) from Hannah & Ruth O’Bosky $10

Dave & Debbie Dague $20

Sylvia & Nelson McCullough $25

Jane Dunlap $25

William & Jessie Macik $50

Charles & Betty Haynes $25

Dorothy Plants $50

Maxine Wilson $25

Melvin & Martha Polen $20

Diana & Charles Allen $25

Joan & James Holbert $30

Fred & Lois Smith $10

Paul & Sandy Harton $25

Ida Kerr $20

In Memory of Byron Smialek from John & Sue Pomykala $50

Don & Betty White $100

Lillian & Bernard Veres $25

Penny Miller $50

Heather & Eric Quedenfeld $40

Daralyn & Wesley Campbell $50

John & Gail Mathias $25

Audrey Bunner $50

In Memory of Jim Yanosik from Donna Yanosik $50

James & Marlene Richey $25

Richard & Linda Brytus $100

David Fisher $25

David & Edna Harden $100

Kenneth & Lynn Randolph $50

Martha Klinedinst $25

Catherine Gennocro $25

Terry & Tamara Oblock $25

Roy & Susan Zoog $100

In Memory of Tom S. Pollok from Marie Pollok $30

Edward & Carol Weekley $100

W. Whoolery $25

In Memory of Gina Debusk Cursi & Auz Kennedy from Cursi Drilling Company $200

Lloyd & Barbara Dearolph $30

James Amato & Elizabeth Amato $25

John & Phyllis Zavatski $25

Klaus & Mel Behrens $100

In Memory of Byron Smialek from Paul & Carol Love $50

George & Linda Pescho $25

In Memory of David Scarborough from Jacqueline Scarborough $100

In Memory of Byron Smialak, you will be missed, from Kathleen & Bill Miller $20

In Memory of my best girl of 72 years & my wife of 67 years Evelyn Mellars from Charles Mellars $25

George & Nancy Weiss $100

Janet & Gregory Carey $20

In Memory of Ernest Koren from Nancy Koren $25

Dave & Donna Holliday $30

Theresa Shape $20

Edgar & Dolores Cheverine $25

In Memory of James Matrogran by wife, Connie $25

Joann & Janice Brownlee $50

Janet & Carl Pinkerton $30

Jessie & Cas Korowicki $20

Eva Wiltrout & Virginia Brown $100

Donald & Marguerite Stark $25

Beverly Clark $100

Strnisha Excavation Inc. $500

Bill & Linda Hill $25

USW Local 146T $100

Michael & Terry Wheatley $25

Mildred & Earl Smith $25

Ida Zoldak $10

Donald & Emma Elizabeth Mohr $50

In Memory of Colleen-Ruth-Fisher-Boyd from Shirley & Stogie Broglia $25

James McDonald $300

Rose Morgan $30

Rose Marie Kobrys $25

Jessie Wood $40

Frank Byrd $20

Anonymous $265