Turkey Trot paves the way for schools to feed hundreds

The hard work and determination of several schools in Westmoreland County paid off as their combined efforts made certain that hundreds of area families would get a Thanksgiving dinner.

The Turkey Trot challenge event, now in its fourth year, is an event that schools participate in to raise money for the Westmoreland County Food Bank.

Usually held in October or November, those schools that opt to take part in the challenge can decide how and where they want to raise money.

Some schools hold in-school collections and others go out into the community. Some schools also hold special programs such as reading for incentives while others conduct penny drives.

"They do whatever they want to do," Jennifer Miller of the Westmoreland County Food Bank said. "Each school is different."

The event started as a way for the food bank to help meet the demands of a growing need in the area.

"In 2005, we had a shortage that could have affected our turkey vouchers," Miller said, adding that there was an outpouring of community support but they knew that something else had to be done. "We really really appreciated the community support and we knew that we had to keep the momentum going somehow."

Miller said that the organization had heard of the Turkey Trot idea and thought they would give it a shot.

"We did a little research and found that they did a function in Boston where they worked with schools,' Miller said. "The whole idea there was actually started by a high school student. We thought 'We can do this.' We figured if we raised a couple of hundred dollars that it would be great."

Miller never dreamed that not only would the challenge take off, but it would grow.

In 2009 alone, the 12 schools that participated raised almost $30,000.

"It really, really took off," Miller said.

The first year, six schools raised more than $10,000. "It totally exceeded our expectations."

The food bank awards a traveling trophy to the school that raises the most money annually, and the students at Yough Middle School still retain bragging rights, as the trophy has never left their school.

"It's almost like the Stanley Cup," Yough Middle School Principal Tom Paterline told his students at the award assembly. "It gets passed around but it hasn't left our house yet."

The traveling trophy as well as an individual yearly trophy will stay in the trophy case at Yough until next year's challenge.

"I am very proud of the way that the students here at Yough Middle school respond to this outreach," Paterline said. "It's wonderful to see them so enthusiastic in their giving back to the community."

First time participant Mt. Pleasant Junior-Senior High School was this year's second place winner, with Franklin Regional High School taking third and Ramsay Elementary in Mt. Pleasant Area School District taking fourth.

The Mt. Pleasant Junior High participated last year, and brought the high school aboard this year.

"The Turkey Trot has been a tremendous success and it seems to be gathering momentum over the years. The enthusiasm the junior high students have seems to be carrying over into the high school as they advance in grade level," Mt. Pleasant principal Ken Williams said. "Because of that, we are gradually expanding our efforts to include the senior high as well. It teaches our students a very valuable lesson about reaching out to others and volunteering time. These are two elements of the "unwritten curriculum" that can be just as valuable as any other lesson we could teach our youth."

Miller said that she hopes that next year will even be better, as more schools opt to take part in the challenge.

"Derry Area High School came on board this year and did well, Mt. Pleasant and Greesnburg Salem also came on board and did well," Miller said. "I know that all these schools want to win and I don't ever want them to be discouraged or disappointed if they don't.

"They are all winners and they have to realize that. They are all winners no matter what."