Blue Knights expand effort to feed area families for Thanksgiving
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Westmoreland County law enforcement officers were out in force last week to round up the usual suspects: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, veggies and butter — the time-honored ingredients of a Thanksgiving dinner.
For the second year in a row, local Chapter I of the Blue Knights motorcycle club for active and retired officers raised donations from the community in order to provide turkey and all the fixings to area families in need.
Despite rising costs at the grocery store, the club expanded upon its previous effort, distributing 175 meals.
“It has grown by at least 75%,” said Sgt. Irvin Shipley, chapter president and an officer in the criminal division of the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office. “With the outpouring and support from the public, we got to 175 meals — our target this year.
“We want to make sure the public knows we’re here in their time of need, and we take care of them.”
This year, the Blue Knights partnered with Seton Hill Child Services, which operates Early Care & Education Centers in Greensburg, Jeannette, Irwin, Scottdale, New Kensington, Ligonier and New Florence. It also offers Head Start programs for young children and was able to identify families who could benefit from the meal drive.
“All of our families meet low-income requirements, so we identified our neediest families,” said Kelli Winwood, community engagement specialist for Seton Hill Child Services. “We initially were trying to do something small on our own, and then we made this connection (with the Blue Knights.) We were just so excited to be able to help more families.
“Our families were very excited. They were very surprised.”
Danielle Roe drove from Bullskin Township, Fayette County, to the Greensburg Early Care & Education Center, to pick up a meal for her family.
“I feel very thankful,” she said. “It definitely helps me out. Food right now is very expensive.”
Shipley noted each meal is expected to feed from four to eight people.
The food Roe received will help her set a table for 10 people — including her household of three, her parents and her siblings and their children.
“It will definitely make my family happy for Thanksgiving,” she said.
Seton Hill Child Services staff bagged the side dishes, which were combined with the turkeys and, if needed, roasting pans.
Sheriff’s Office personnel helped transport 34 meals from the Greensburg center to a distribution site in New Kensington. Officers with various law enforcement agencies also made individual deliveries to some recipients.
The Schimizzi law firm of Greensburg and Kris Feliciani’s State Farm Insurance agency in Youngwood were major contributors to the meal drive.
Also playing a part in the program were retired county detectives and officers from multiple agencies, including state and local police, state and county prisons and the Sheriff’s Office.
“This is our mission every year,” said Shipley. “It’s very rewarding for us.”