Leet Township volunteer dedicated to feeding, helping the community of Fair Oaks

Steph Turner grew up across the street from the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department in Leet Township.

A friend recruited her to volunteer during the fire station’s open house in 2002, and Turner has been helping ever since.

“That’s when my love for the fire department really started,” said Turner, 34. “Ever since, I’ve done whatever I can for them.”

Turner is a support member of the Fair Oaks VFD and was instrumental in the successful fundraising efforts for the now-defunct “Turkey Bingo,” a four-day event hosted by the fire company.

“The turkey bingo was wildly popular, and winners took home live chickens or turkeys — but the bingo fun ended during covid,” Turner said. “Fair Oaks is a very poor town, and we did it for the community around Thanksgiving, so families could have something to eat.”

Turner touted the hard work involved in fundraising, and, after 2015, she raised thousands of dollars by adding a 50-50 component during bingo nights.

Since then, about four core volunteers have assisted Turner in hosting a Mother’s Day Weekend Flower Sale each spring and Mums Flower Sale in the fall, but finding enough volunteers has proved challenging.

In 2020, Turner founded the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.

“That is my baby, but unfortunately there’s just not enough membership or help. We need members anywhere. If you have an hour a week, that time is very valuable to us,” Turner said.

Turner reminded the public that volunteering as a support member does not involve firefighting.

“There’s so much one can do — help in administrative or anywhere,” Turner said.

Providing free food to the community is a daily priority for Turner and the handful of volunteers who operate the 24/7 Fair Oaks Food Pantry.

The pantry, created in 2020, is on the fire company grounds but not funded by the fire department.

“It does wonderful things. We have a lot of people now that donate to keep the pantry filled, including a church in Ambridge that delivers donated food from a Shop ‘n Save,” Turner said.

Courtesy of Steph Turner

A free food pantry is located at Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department, 190 Ambridge Ave. in Leet Township.

The food pantry averages more than 40 visitors seeking food daily, including many senior citizens.

According to census data, 10% of seniors 65 and older are living at the poverty level in Leet Township.

“A lot of people can get embarrassed over it, and maybe nobody wants to admit they can’t provide for their family, but our pantry is about having no stigma surrounding food,” she said.

A closet in the fire department is filled with donated food items and toiletries.

“I wish a lot of people would just understand the need and help a little bit more,” Turner said. “I’m very blessed to have my girls, my job and all of the things in my life, but the district we live in is very expensive. There were times when I struggled, and my family had to resort to food pantries. I know I’m not the only one, but I’m the more vocal one about it. There’s nothing wrong with needing help.”

Fair Oaks VFD operates with 16 firefighters and three support members.

Turner operates the food bank with the help of volunteers Sally Nimick and Virginia Elliott and is grateful for steady monetary donations from Holy Ghost Orthodox Church in Ambridge and the Quaker Valley Salvation Army.

“It makes my heart so full because it’s a dream come true to provide our friends and neighbors assistance and have these great organizations back our pantry as well,” Turner said.

Turner has immense pride in her hometown of Fair Oaks and the volunteer experiences she’s sharing with her daughters.

She works full-time for the Sewickley Water Authority.

“Now I’m living here and raising my family,” said the Quaker Valley High School graduate. “The love and pride they have in helping is fantastic, and that’s what I value the most out of volunteering and giving back. It goes beyond me. It takes the whole community.”

Turner is married to Fair Oaks VFD Chief Nathan Turner, and the couple have four young daughters. They have known each other since childhood and married five years ago.

Nathan Turner praised his wife’s giving nature.

“It’s a major help to us. We can focus more on the firefighting side and not have to worry about everything else,” he said. “We’re always accepting membership, and we could always use the help. She’s constantly looking for ways to help. She’s always been that way.”

To volunteer, call 724-266-6133 or message Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department on Facebook.