17th Annual Turkey-A-Thon Raises Over $39,000 for Food Pantries in Washington County
For Immediate Release
Date: October 20, 2021
Program Contact: Regina Grabrovac, Healthy Acadia, (207) 255-3741 or regina@healthyacadia.org
Media Contact: Tracey Carlson, (207) 667-7171 Ext. 112 or tracey@healthyacadia.org
Stationed at Flat Iron Corner in Lubec, volunteer Paul Thibault solicited donations from community members in garbed in full turkey attire.
17th Annual Turkey-A-Thon Raises Over $39,000 for Food Pantries in Washington County
WASHINGTON COUNTY. On Friday, October 8, 2021, dozens of volunteers from schools, businesses, and community organizations across Washington County spent the day (mostly) outdoors alongside employees from Classic Hits 92.7/95.3 FM Radio, Dunkin’ in Calais and Machias, V.L. Tammaro in Calais and Baileyville, and Healthy Acadia, collecting donations for local food pantries during the 17th annual Washington County Turkey-A-Thon.
Teams stationed at seven locations throughout Washington County enthusiastically encouraged passersby to support families in need, noting that a donation of $12 could purchase a turkey for a family. Broadcasting live from the Dunkin’studio at V.L Tammaro in Calais, Classic Hits 92.7/95.3 FM Radio kept the momentum going throughout the day, even encouraging a little friendly competition as collection sites reported their tallies hourly via phone.
The campaign has raised over $39,000 so far - the equivalent of 3,250 turkeys – surpassing this year’s $30,000 fundraising goal as well as last year’s record-breaking tally – and additional donations continue to come in. Every dollar raised through the Turkey-A-Thon will be used to purchase gift certificates from local grocery stores that will be distributed among the ten Washington County food pantries, as well as emergency school backpack programs and other food cupboards. The gift certificates will help ensure that local families in need enjoy a healthy holiday meal.
Maine State Representative Anne Perry (D-Calais) (left) and Maine Senator Marianne Moore (R-Washington) were on hand at VL Tammaro in Calais to collect donations for local food pantries during the 17th Annual Washington County Turkey-A-Thon (photo credit: Jeff Demmons).
Classic Hits 92.7/95.3, Dunkin’ in Calais and Machias, VL Tammaro in Woodland and in Calais, and Healthy Acadia would like to thank all those who generously donated and/or volunteered their time during the event.
“I am very happy with the results from all seven of our locations,” said Jeff Demmons, Account Executive with WQDY, Inc., and co-coordinator of the annual fundraising event. “It is so nice to see so many students from schools around the County getting involved in volunteering at our sites as well as organizing fundraisers of their own to benefit the Turkey-A-Thon.”
“Turkey-A-Thon is an annual event that brings people of all ages together from all over the county to raise funds for our food security organizations,” said Healthy Acadia Food Programs Manager Regina Grabrovac, who helps to coordinate the annual event. “Schools, businesses, food pantry managers are all involved. Every person makes a difference. Each year, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for the community that we live in and this year is no exception. We will have more funds to give back to our food pantries because so many of you contributed generously. Thank you for stepping up, Washington County!”
If you would like to make a contribution, please contact Jeff Demmons at Classic Hits: (207) 454-7545 or jeff@wqdy.fm; or Regina Grabrovac at Healthy Acadia: (207) 255-3741 or regina@healthyacadia.org.
Healthy Acadia is a 501(C)(3) community health organization building vibrant communities and making it easier for all people to lead healthy lives throughout Washington and Hancock counties. For more information about Healthy Acadia’s efforts to address food insecurity and other health initiatives, visit www.healthyacadia.org.
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Jonesport Elementary School students from Catherine McDonald's eighth grade class helped to collect donations at Four Corners Shop 'n Save in Columbia (photo credit: Healthy Acadia).