There’s a change at the top of the Turkey Fund
SPRINGFIELD >> It had to happen, and everyone at the Springfield School District knew it. The time had come for the “Head Turkey” to hand over the wings and drumsticks, pounds of produce, one hundred heavyweight cardboard boxes and master list. Dave Ash is retiring.
Ash, who teaches engineering, fabrication and architectural design at the high school, will retire after completing 36 years in the classroom. During those years in the district, he has overseen the Turkey Fund with several administrators. Packing day has been his forte, and he does it masterfully.
He says, “Oh, I’ll be back to help out.” And he will, especially on packing day. But the Turkey Fund is an initiative that requires management and oversight throughout the year. Ash made it known he was looking for “volunteers” to step into the organized chaos. Two particularly able individuals took the challenge and were on hand packing day shortly before school went on winter break.
Teacher John GildeaWalker and Matt Owens, facilities and custodial supervisor, are no strangers to major projects. Gildea-Walker said yes, ironically directly on the heels of turning over his longterm faculty leadership of the high school’s THON. For those who have been around the district, Owens was not a surprise, as he is always present at district events, large and small, making sure everything runs smoothly.
“We try to tweak the Turkey Fund operation every year and make some changes. But these two bring a lot more tech savvy to the overall process,” said Ash.
Some of the anticipated tweaks Ash mentioned might be minor, such as the specifics of spreadsheets which identify recipients of food boxes and gifts. But over the years, the Turkey Fund has had more substantial changes.
Turkey Fund has been a staple of the holiday season for decades. Started by administrators 42 years ago with food baskets for about 10 families, it has increased tenfold with quite sizable boxes containing enough food for several meals including a festive holiday turkey dinner. It has become a year-round initiative to assist families with a variety of expenses like utilities, gift cards for essential needs, medical costs, and the newest endeavor of funding transportation and meals related to cancer care. An assortment of gifts is also distributed at the holidays to families identified through the schools and other sources.
The district is particularly proud that the entire school community becomes involved. E. T. Richardson Middle School holds a canned food drive.
Packing is a collaboration of elementary and high school students. Holiday greeting cards are created
by youngster in the lower grades and placed in the boxes. Members of the facilities department are essential for unloading the produce which has been donated by vendors in the Philadelphia Produce Distribution Center, organized by Springfield resident Louis Penza of Pinto Brothers. Every strong back is needed to reload the now weighty boxes — this year, 93 - for delivery by township volunteers and members of several organizations including police.
The packing location returned to the transportation area after a few years in the lobby of the Blue Gym, now gone as part of the high school master plan. And though the layout was a little different, the system still worked beautifully due to experience and organization.
If Ash is true to form, he will accept the thanks and gratitude of the district reluctantly. But he won’t be able to deny he has helped create and sustain the Turkey Fund legacy most treasured throughout the Springfield and Morton communities.