Tarentum teen continues to provide turkeys to those in need

A Tarentum teen is doing his part to prove that hockey players are good people.

Wesley Westerman, 15, started collecting turkeys for needy families last year after he read an article and saw a YouTube clip of “The Social” co-host Jessica Allen describing hockey players as conceited and rude.

Wesley ended up collecting 14 turkeys last year, which he donated to Allegheny Family Network. Allegheny Family Network is a nonprofit that helps parents or caregivers throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley raising children with mental health and/or emotional challenges.

This year, he collected about 40 turkeys, and will donate them to veterans throughout Allegheny County.

Wesley said he wanted to support veterans this year because of his neighbor, who is a veteran.

“He showed us that a lot of veterans don’t really have anyone during Thanksgiving,” Wesley said.

Wesley’s mom, Brandy Jones, said they have been collecting turkeys since October.

Jones said they chose to give the turkeys to veterans because Jones is friends with Jessica King, commander of VFW District 29. Jones said King had been asking people for donations of turkeys for veterans who otherwise wouldn’t be having Thanksgiving.

Wesley will give the birds to King at 5:30 p.m. Monday at VFW Post 894 in Harrison.

King’s home post — VFW Post 8430 in East McKeesport — is providing traditional side dishes such as mashed potatoes, green beans, fried onions, cranberry sauce, yams, stuffing, gravy, pumpkin pie and whipped cream to go with Wesley’s turkeys.

That way the veterans can have a full Thanksgiving dinner.

“We make sure they have everything,” King said. “We also put a gift card in there for them to get the other items they may need such as milk (and) butter.”

Jones said she and Wesley will bring donated turkeys and side dishes to two veterans who private messaged her on Facebook. A third veteran who also messaged Jones will come to the VFW to pick-up their meal.

King will distribute the rest of the turkeys.

King said she is grateful that Wesley wanted to donate turkeys to veterans, who sometimes are too proud to ask for help.

King said some veterans don’t even know they’re getting turkeys and will be surprised.

“It’s very heartwarming … to see the younger generation step up and help the veterans in need,” said King, a Marine veteran of the Iraq War. “It brings a smile to my face.”

Jones shared on Facebook that her son was collecting turkeys, and received positive response from the community.

Donations came from friends, family, people on Facebook and parents of other members of his hockey team. Wesley plays for the Vipers, a youth team in Lower Burrell.

“He wants to make a difference. I’m proud of him for doing it,” Jones said. “It really took off this year as opposed to last year.”

Jones said they went to people’s houses to pick-up turkeys people had purchased, or people dropped them off at their house.

They also received cash donations from people and businesses to be able to buy turkeys.

Wesley will be collecting turkeys annually, according to his mom.