Nov 28, 2023 By Karen Mansfield 6 min read

This year’s 2000 Turkeys drive has come to a close, and we’re thrilled to announce the 2023 campaign raised $219,600 to help Washington County’s food-insecure families celebrate a Thanksgiving dinner.

We thank you, Washington County! Thanks to your willingness to open your hearts and your wallets, more than 5,000 families will enjoy a holiday meal with loved ones.

WJPA radio host Pete Povich has been a part of 2000 Turkeys since shortly after it was started by the late Observer-Reporter columnist Byron Smialek and civic activist Wayne Armstrong, along with Grace Hopwood, when the group handed out turkeys and canned goods from the back of a car.

“I would say if I go back to when this started with Byron and Wayne and Grace, there is no way we could have predicted this type of reaction to 2000 Turkeys and the amount of money coming in to help people every Thanksgiving. It’s just amazing,” said Povich.

This year’s 2000 Turkeys campaign wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of individuals, businesses and organizations who joyfully donated.

In partnership with Food Helpers of Washington County, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and City Mission’s Boxes of Love program, 2000 Turkeys provided Thanksgiving dinners – turkeys and/or side dishes, desserts and gift cards – to more than 5,000 struggling families.

On Tuesday, Allison Park Elementary School first-grader Daniel Bernacki, a student at Kang’s Black Belt Academy, stopped by WJPA with Kang’s owner Jeff Jox, to present a donation.

Bernacki won a kick-a-thon contest to benefit 2000 Turkeys, where he landed 587 kicks.

Jox said he is often approached to donate to causes, but for him, donating to 2000 Turkeys gives him a chance to help friends and neighbors, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, and a lot of people we don’t know personally.

“We’re helping people that we might bump into who need help but we don’t even know it. This charity, 100% of what we bring in goes out to people. Nothing’s held back for administrative costs,” said Jox. “Some of our student base is the people in need, who are struggling, who need this kind of help. I make sure our families, our parents, our students who are helping out know that’s the reason I like this charity. We’re making a difference for the people in our community.”

George Omiros, president and CEO of Food Helpers, was overwhelmed at the community’s generosity at a time when more families are struggling to make ends meet.

“The community – the individuals and business support – for the 2000 Turkeys campaign has been tremendous. These dollars mean so much to families suffering food insecurity, especially during the Thanksgiving season,” said Omiros. “The efforts of the 2000 Turkeys committee is amazing. Food Helpers thanks everyone who donated, and with those donations we were able to provide Thanksgiving meals for 1,850 families. We’re wishing everyone a blessed Thanksgiving.”

2000 Turkeys is sponsored by the Washington Observer-Reporter and WJPA.

“As part of the newspaper’s role, it’s important to use our voice to endorse worthwhile causes such as 2000 Turkeys,” said Liz Rogers, executive editor. “We are proud to continue Byron’s legacy and couldn’t be happier about the outcome of this year’s fundraising drive.”

The 2000 Turkeys committee – Povich, Laurel Ziemba, Canonsburg Mayor Dave Rhome and Karen Mansfield – wants to thank everyone who has stepped up to help 2000 Turkeys grow from a small, grassroots event into a heartwarming annual tradition that has helped our neighbors in need year after year.

Thanks to Shop ‘N Save, where bright yellow 2000 Turkeys placards can be purchased throughout the campaign and which hang prominently on the walls of the Washington and Canonsburg stores, which continues to play a significant role in 2000 Turkeys.

And our thanks to AccountMaster Inc., who once again donated their services as one of the ways the company gives back to the community.

We cannot thank you enough for every single donation, small or large. They all matter. Thanks for mailing in checks to the post office (and for the “in memory of” tributes to honor loved ones, and the encouraging notes that accompany several of them); for collecting change in jars; for hosting fundraising competitions at work; for Range Resources and its employees and nearly 100 students from local school districts canvassing streets during its annual 2000 Turkeys drive; for the Blue Ride kicking off the campaign every year. We could not do this without you.

When you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with your family, you can feel thankful that your donation made it possible for other families to enjoy the holiday with their loved ones too. Happy Thanksgiving from us to you.

MAC Tools, $55

Ken and Michelle Westcott, $100

Southpointe Chamber of Commerce, $100

Schultz Electric, $1,000

Rhodes Carpet, $5,000

Dolores Bednarski, $1,000

Margaret Elaine Frazier, $25

Mark and Sandra Bonanni, $20

Geraldine Hensel and Michael Barnhart, in memory of Marlene Hatfield, $100

Phillip and Linda Weaver, $100

Lois Ann Koval, $100

Bob and Cindy Griffin, in memory of Ernest and Ethyl Barnes, $100

National Pike Storage and Apartments, in memory of Robert W. Jones, $100

Washington County Chamber of Commerce, in honor of Laural Ziemba, $1,000

Diane Chenney, $25

Drew Rosko and Hollie Zavallo, $100

Nancy Britt, $25

James Blyth, in memory of Frances Blyth, $50

Anonymous, $25

Christina and Piera Simms, $250

George Watson, $20

Anonymous, $25

St. Oscar Romero Catholic Men’s Club, $100

Anonymous, $100

William Douglas Canan, $20

Julie Archer, in memory of loving husband, Jim Archer, $25

Dale and Jean Lyons, $200

Barb Aloia, $25

Frank and Suzanne Lukich, $30

Rose Marie Kobrys, $50

Jeff Kotula, $250

Janet Brach, in memory of Anthony F. Brach, $25

Barbara Provenzano, $50

Norman and Mary Boroch, $50

Anthony and Jan Conn, $100

Jonas and Bernadette Paskevicius, $100

First Baptist Church of Burgettstown, $50

Judith and John Caler, $25

Deborah and Paul Shoot, $50

Donna Yanosik, in memory of parents Ed and Pauline Koren, $100

Darlene and Brian Rumbaught, $50

Sandra Lee Wallace, $300

Kathy Arlia, $10

Della Hritsko, $50

Bob and Orpha Orbash, $50

Teresa Findlay, $100

Joann and Norman Nadalin, $50

Richard and Sonia Blaha, $50

Angie and Charlie Walters, $50

Don and Joan Zielinski, în memory of Rosemary Vulcano, $25

DE Wolbert, $25

The Troiano family, $100

Christie Campbell, in memory of Keith A. Campbell, $50

Deborah Lynne Testa, for Danny and Debbie Trubiano, $50

William and Susan Peffer, $25

Faith United Presbyterian Church, $500

William McCormick III and Ann McCormick, $100

Fraternal Order of Bears 83 Gaming Fund, $350

Linda Relish, $50

Charles Schwab, $1,500

Debra Wilkes, $25

William and Sandra Grim, $50

William Budavich Jr. and Susan Budavich, $50

W.C. and R.A. Dinsmore, in memory of Frank and Verna Guzel Sr., $50

Andrew and Megan Vance, $40

Roy and Marie Larimer, $25

Timothy and Robin Matyas, $50

Larry and Karen Headley, $50

Donna Jean Stemski, in memory of Harry “Mousey” McKee and Harry “Magoo” McKee, $50

P.E. Carson and R.A. Carson, in memory of Sharon Walker Cox, $50

Anonymous, $10

Washington-Greene Counties Chapter, $50

Robert and Sharon Aloia, $50

William Boydston, $50

Dolores C. Jennings, in memory of Ray Jennings, $100

Sally Pallesco, $25

Judith M. Phillips, $500

Richard and Terri Hall, $50

Robert and Patricia Call, $25

Alex and Leah Drain, $100

Mary and Anthony Wojcuich, $50

John Welch, $20

Rosemarie Efaw, $25

Kang’s Black Belt Academy, $1,200

Bertha Kovacicek, $20

Duritza Enterprises Inc., $4,222

Anonymous, $500

Grace, Jackson and Piper Dollar, $100

Patricia Patterson, $25

Sam’s Pizza, from Dave and Kim Rhome and Rege and Martha Passante and our loyal customers, $1,000

Latha Investments, $236

Mary Mother of the Church, $200

BPOE Washington Elks Lodge 776, $500