Wexford Elementary Students Make Big Donation To Turkey Fund

PINE TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- The KDKA-TV Turkey Fund got a big boost with a donation that may be the largest of any school contribution in the region.

Through their annual "Read to Feed" campaign, Wexford Elementary School raised $12,986 this year. The money will be used by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to help needy families to buy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

The campaign challenges students to read as many books as they can during the school year, and asks the children to challenge their relatives, friends and neighbors to sponsor them.

Principal Rick Walsh calls it a win-win.

"Kids read, and they read for a purpose. It's promoting the love of reading and doing it for a good cause," said Walsh.

This year's donation set a record for the school, and with a match from PNC bank, will be able to feed more than 1,700 families.

The food bank's Maggie Beldecos says it's important this time of year when families might be struggling just to put food on the table on a daily basis, let alone pay for a Thanksgiving dinner.

"They want to have a family meal, a turkey, sit around the table, and with these kinds of donations especially coming from children it's such high impact," said Beldecos.

Principal Walsh says the campaign brings a special energy to the school, where he says, the students realize the importance of what they're doing.

"When you sit there and have conversations with the children they understand there are families that are going through difficult times and they're doing something positive to help them," said Walsh.

In the 12 years that the school has participated in "Read to Feed" for the Turkey Fund, the students have raised more than $100,000 for needy families.

KDKA Chief Meteorologist Jeff Versyla participated in today's assembly at the school. In addition to being one of KDKA's spokesmen for the Turkey Fund this year, Jeff's wife, Shelly, was co-chair of this year's "Read to Feed" campaign.

Also attending the assembly: David Lachina from the Wexford branch of PNC bank, which matches donations of $50 or more. He says this will be the largest since donation to the Turkey Fund to come through his branch this year.

"It's great to see," he said. "I'm proud of everyone involved."

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